Biofuels, foods, livestock, and the environment

Diverse con—icts exist in the use of land, water, energy, and other environmental resources for food, livestock products, and biofuel production. Foods, livestock, and biofuels are dependent on the same resources for production: land, water, and energy. In the United States, about 19% of all fossil energy is utilized in the food system: about 7% for agricultural production, 7% for processing and packaging foods, and 5% for distribution and preparation of food (Pimentel, Marklein et al., 2009). In developing countries, about 50% of wood energy is used for cooking (Nonhebel, 2005).