Food Security and Renewable Energy : Insights

The world’s increasing population together with the amount of calories needed to meet dietary requirements has intensified food security concerns. As a result, the world’s energy demand has correspondingly risen mainly due to the preference for sophisticated food production-(usually energy–demanding), as well as mechanization of the food supply chain. Renewable energy has been pivotal in meeting the above demands by means of energy for food processing, storage and transport. The surge in food prices has gained widespread consideration. Many factors such as cost of farm inputs, climatic patterns and land tenure systems account for the food price increases observed in recent decades. There is also common knowledge that renewable energy particularly –bioenergy as being a cause of the above. The quest for a safer energy against conventional fossil fuels has made first generation biofuels the go-to option resulting in competition for resources that would have otherwise been used to produce food or consumed as food. Hence the food price increments. Bioenergy production may have a variable effect on food prices. Whereas the cultivation of first generation bioenergy crops can increase prices, it could also be the catalyst to induce investment in agriculture to increase crop yields that would ultimately stabilize prices. In the situation where resources for staple crops are shifted to   bioenergy feedstock, staple food prices would soar due to shortages. This suggests many people are likely to remain in perpetual hunger unless crops yields are enough to meet the dimensions of food security –availability, access, utilization and stability. Food security and bioenergy have positive synergies as stated earlier. For example, while higher prices may boost local economies, bioenergy could strengthen food availability, access, utilization and stability to ensure food security. Additionally, bioenergy could mitigate energy deficiencies especially in the countryside. Proper management would be essential to ensure bioenergy production does not occur at the detriment of local livelihoods –notably food production and its consumption.