On kilowatts and calories: integrating sustainable energy in food systems

Laurence L. Delina and Chloe Chan

Chapter 8 in The Elgar Companion to Food System Transformation for Sustainable Development, 2026, pp 101-115 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Growing, processing, transporting, and cooking food consume significant energy. However, opportunities exist for incorporating renewable energy into food production. Solar energy can be utilised in solar greenhouses, combined with agricultural production or livestock raising (known as agrivoltaics), or integrated into aquaculture farms (known as aquavoltaics). Geothermal energy can be employed in greenhouses and for dehydration processing. Additionally, biogas can be produced by converting livestock manure, crop residues, and food processing scraps through anaerobic digestion. This chapter provides an overview of the promising sustainable energy applications in the global food system, and presents case studies from different countries to illustrate the use of these technologies. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that future research should focus on integrating renewable energy into food processing, transportation, and storage. Moreover, establishing legal and political frameworks is crucial to facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy within the food industry.

Keywords: Energy–Food Nexus; Renewable Energy; Renewable Energy Integration; Food Production; Agrivoltaics; Aquavoltaics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332847
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