A new report from renowned international thinktank IPES-Food, Fuel To Fork, documents how fossil fuels are the lifeblood of the food industry. From how food is grown, processed, and packaged, to how it’s refrigerated and delivered, nearly every step is fossil fuel-based.

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Fossil fuels are deeply embedded in every part of the food chain – accounting for at least 15% of total fossil fuel use globally – and their use in food systems is accelerating.

Key findings from the report include:

• 40% of all global petrochemicals are consumed by food systems, mainly in the form of synthetic fertilizers and plastic packaging for food and beverages.
• One-third of all petrochemicals go toward producing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, making them the single biggest fossil fuel consumer in agriculture.

What the report recommends to get fossil fuels out of food systems:

• Rein in corporate power and democratize food systems governance. The first thing to do is break up the big food processors and retailers. None of the changes will matter otherwise;
• Advance a just energy transition that expands and equitably distributes renewable energy;

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here