Energy inefficiency in industrial agriculture: You are what you eat

Modern industrial farming technologies have changed substantially in recent decades. In many locations such as Arizona, these industries are highly energy and water-intensive operations. The sustainability of these operations is called into question. The economic, social and climate implications of energy use in agriculture are worth further discussion. Based on the idea of a sustainable energy budget, the production processes of various foods are analyzed which prove to be very energy inefficient. The environmental, ecological and social justice issues of modern industrial agriculture require a reassessment form myriad perspectives: farm subsidies, consumer demand and preferences, engineering technologies, and water policy.