Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes
Abstract Modern agriculture couples photosynthetic energy with human‐applied energy supplements (e.g., fertilizers, labor, cultivation) to feed a growing population. These energy supplements usually come from fossil fuels, presenting an opportunity to decrease fossil fuel required per calorie by imp...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Food and Energy Security |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.348 |
| _version_ | 1797945030622576640 |
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| author | Heather E. Roney Berkley J. Walker |
| author_facet | Heather E. Roney Berkley J. Walker |
| author_sort | Heather E. Roney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Modern agriculture couples photosynthetic energy with human‐applied energy supplements (e.g., fertilizers, labor, cultivation) to feed a growing population. These energy supplements usually come from fossil fuels, presenting an opportunity to decrease fossil fuel required per calorie by improving photosynthetic efficiency. To quantify how improving photosynthetic efficiency would decrease the supplemental energy needed per calorie, we present a “photon to plate” life cycle analysis of energy flows (photosynthetic and human‐applied) needed to produce fresh‐cut fries. Our results show that photosynthetic inefficiencies require ~80 times the energy used to cultivate, harvest, transport and prepare fries for consumption and that improvements to photosynthesis could reduce the energy applied by humans per calorie by almost 40%. This study highlights the magnitude of energy used during photosynthesis and the potential for photosynthetic improvements to increase agricultural sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:47:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e71d850f2c64b8eb4c3653bdaf6b279 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-3694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:47:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food and Energy Security |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e71d850f2c64b8eb4c3653bdaf6b2792023-01-24T01:08:22ZengWileyFood and Energy Security2048-36942023-01-01121n/an/a10.1002/fes3.348Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxesHeather E. Roney0Berkley J. Walker1Department of Community Sustainability Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USADOE Great lakes Bioenergy Research Center Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USAAbstract Modern agriculture couples photosynthetic energy with human‐applied energy supplements (e.g., fertilizers, labor, cultivation) to feed a growing population. These energy supplements usually come from fossil fuels, presenting an opportunity to decrease fossil fuel required per calorie by improving photosynthetic efficiency. To quantify how improving photosynthetic efficiency would decrease the supplemental energy needed per calorie, we present a “photon to plate” life cycle analysis of energy flows (photosynthetic and human‐applied) needed to produce fresh‐cut fries. Our results show that photosynthetic inefficiencies require ~80 times the energy used to cultivate, harvest, transport and prepare fries for consumption and that improvements to photosynthesis could reduce the energy applied by humans per calorie by almost 40%. This study highlights the magnitude of energy used during photosynthesis and the potential for photosynthetic improvements to increase agricultural sustainability.https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.348agricultureefficiencyenergyLCAphotosynthesissustainability |
| spellingShingle | Heather E. Roney Berkley J. Walker Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes Food and Energy Security agriculture efficiency energy LCA photosynthesis sustainability |
| title | Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| title_full | Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| title_fullStr | Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| title_short | Photon to plate: A holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| title_sort | photon to plate a holistic view of photosynthetic and anthropogenic energy fluxes |
| topic | agriculture efficiency energy LCA photosynthesis sustainability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.348 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heathereroney photontoplateaholisticviewofphotosyntheticandanthropogenicenergyfluxes AT berkleyjwalker photontoplateaholisticviewofphotosyntheticandanthropogenicenergyfluxes |