Energy efficiency as option for improving sustainability of agrofood system

Agrofood system embraces two closely related components: direct crop production (agriculture) and food industry which includes processing, retailing and products distribution. FAO reports that the agrofood system is one of the world's largest user of fossil energy, with around 20% of the total energy consumption in developed countries, and a 22% of total annual emissions, with the agriculture component as responsible of around 14% of total global GHG emissions. Agrofood system accounts for 17 % of the EU’s gross energy consumption in 2013, equivalent to about 26 % of the EU’s final energy consumption, producing approximately 11% of the EU agrofood GHG emissions. This paper focuses on the opportunities linked with the application of energy management measures complying with the EU 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), and with the target of the EC to reduce 20% of GHG by 2020.