Food and energy resources

287 Pages·1984·5.131 MB·English

by  David Pimentel, Carl W Hall

Food and Energy Resources
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Food and
Energy Resources
Edited by
DAVID PIMENTEL
Department of Entomology
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
CARL W. HALL
College of Engineering
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
1984
ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.
(Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers)
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COPYRIGHT © 1984, BY ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED OR
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ACADEMIC PRESS, INC.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32887
United Kingdom Edition published by
ACADEMIC PRESS, INC. (LONDON) LTD.
24/28 OVAL ROAD, LONDON NW1 7DX
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Food and energy resources.
(Food science and technology)
Includes index.
1. Food industry and trade-Energy consumption.
2. Agriculture and energy. I. Pimentel, David, Date.
II. Hall, Carl W. III. Series.
TP370.5.F65 1984 333.79 83-22322
ISBN 0-12-556560-7 (alk. paper)
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
84 85 86 87 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Contributors xi
Preface xiü
1 Energy Flow in the Food System
DAVID PIMENTEL
I. Introduction 1
II. Solar Energy 2
III. Energy Flow in Hunter-Gatherer Societies 3
IV. Human-Powered Crop Production 4
V. Draft Animal-Powered Crop Production 4
VI. Mechanized Crop Production 7
VII. Alternatives for Reducing Energy Inputs in Crop Production 10
VIII. Livestock Production 15
IX. Alternative Diets 17
X. Food Processing and Packaging 19
XI. Food Transport 21
XII. Preparing Food for Consumption 22
References 23
2 Energy Sources and Conversions Relating
to Food
CARL W. HALL
I. Introduction 25
II. Energy Sources 26
III. Changes over the Earth 27
IV. Photosynthesis 28
V. Carbon Dioxide 30
VI. Hydrocarbon and Carbohydrate Production 31
ν
vi Contents
VII. Biomass 32
VIII. Combustion Characteristics 37
IX. The Methanol Approach 38
X. National and International Networks 38
XI. Conversion Efficiency 39
XII. Entropy and Negentropy 40
XIII. Secondary Effects 41
XIV. Summary 41
References 42
3 The Role of Energy in World Agriculture
and Food Availability
CARL W. HALL
I. Introduction 43
II. Objectives 44
III. Procedure 45
IV. Production Characteristics 45
V. Food Systems 45
VI. Energy Relationships: Developed versus Developing
Economies 46
VII. Efficiency of Systems in Agricultural Production 49
VIII. Commercial Energy 50
IX. Looking Ahead: Future Energy Demands
and Sources 56
X. Principles Used in Considering Energy and Food
Relationships 58
XI. Summary 60
References 60
4 Food for People
MARCIA H. PIMENTEL
I. Securing Food 67
II. Nutrients and Food 71
III. Malnutrition 74
IV. Current World Food Production 77
V. Population Explosion 79
VI. Constraints on Agricultural Production 82
VII. Food Needs of the Future 85
VIII. Solutions? 86
References 88
Contents vii
5 Energy Use in Crop Systems in
Northeastern China
WEN DAZHONG AND DAVID PIMENTEL
I. Introduction 91
II. Crop Region of Northeastern China 92
III. Energy Inputs in Crop Systems of Northeastern China 93
IV. Discussion of Energy Utilization in Cropping Systems in
Northeastern China 112
References 119
6 Energy and Food Relationships in Developing
Countries: A Perspective from
the Social Sciences
GEORGE H. AXINN AND NANCY W. AXINN
I. Introduction 122
II. Farm Family Ecosystem 122
III. Energy Transformation and Social Differentiation 123
IV. Development and Change 123
V. Materials Flow and Energy Transformation in a Farm
Family Ecosystem 126
VI. Farm Family Ecosystems—Three Major Components 129
VII. The Family as an Ecosystem 131
VIII. The Human Component 133
IX. The Plant Component 133
X. The Animal Component 134
XI. Components Linked in Farm Family Ecosystem 136
XII. Types of Farming Systems 138
XIII. The Recycling Ratio 139
XIV. Implications of Energy Analysis for Food and Nutrition 141
XV. Implications of Energy Analysis for Fuel for the Family 142
XVI. Implications of Energy Analysis for Rural Development
Strategies and International Assistance 142
References 146
7 Ethics, Economics, Energy, and
Food Conversion Systems
GLENN L. JOHNSON
I. Philosophic Value Theory, Ethics, and Economics 148
II. The Meanings of Some Terms 149
viii Contents
III. Problem-Solving Processes and Decision Making 151
IV. Contributions of Ethics and Economics to Solutions of
Problems Involving Energy Use in Food Conversion
Systems 154
V. Information Needed to Solve Problems Involving the Use
of Energy in Food Conversion Systems 163
VI. Summary and Conclusions 177
References 179
8 Solar Energy Applications in Agriculture
GIGI M. BERARDI
I. Introduction 181
II. Active and Passive Solar Energy Systems: Basic Principles
and Components 183
III. Active and Passive Solar Energy Systems: Applications 187
IV. Management of Organic Matter for Crop Fertilization 196
References 201
9 Biomass Energy and Food—Conflicts?
WILLIAM J. HUDSON
I. The Morality of Food versus Fuel 207
II. "Cheap Food" Is Surviving the Grain Export Boom 208
III. Preserving Food Exports to the World's Starving 210
IV. The Energy Balance versus the Economic Balance in
Converting Food to Fuel 212
V. Relation of Gasoline Price to Corn Price Depends on
International Politics and Weather 213
VI. Gasoline Market Size versus Corn Market Size 217
VII. Prospects for Exporting Corn By-Products 217
VIII. Domestic Market for Corn By-Products 220
IX. Potential Magnitude of Acreage Changes from a Major
Gasohol Program 221
X. Agronomic Impact of Acreage Changes from a Major
Gasohol Program 224
XI. Corn-Soybean Price Impact of a Major Gasohol Program 226
XII. Inferences about Fertilizer, Pesticides, and Erosion 228
XIII. Potential and Problems of Energy from Crop Residues and
Other Biomass Sources 230
XIV. Main Job of the Farmer: Crop—Not Crop Residue 232
XV. Conclusion 233
References 236
Contents ix
10 Potentials in Producing Alcohol from
Corn Grain and Residue in Relation
to Prices, Land Use, and Conservation
EARL O. HEADY AND DOUGLAS A. CHRISTENSEN
I. Introduction 237
II. Food or Fuel from Agriculture 238
III. Nature of This Analysis 242
IV. Programming 242
V. Scenarios Examined 245
VI. Other Research 254
References 255
Index 257