China is one of the world’s largest food producers. Recently an acute power shortage there reduced food output. This sent markets into panic. Severe global food shortages and increased prices could follow.

What caused China’s power shortage? Over-reliance on renewable energy. It led to insufficient and unreliable electricity generation. That harmed domestic food production and global food security.

Many people condemn coal. They espouse “green” policies. But these lead to power blackouts. And power blackouts harm food production, processing, and distribution.

Agriculture Needs Reliable, Affordable Electricity

Global food security cannot be achieved without cheap, consistent electricity. In Turkey, an investigation revealed “that an increase in electricity consumption significantly stimulate[d] agricultural output” from 1995 to 2013. Water-intensive crops especially benefited.

 A 2020 scientific study found that “overall and urban electricity access have positive and significant impacts on agricultural productivity” in sub-Saharan Africa. So, “policymakers should focus on electricity infrastructure intervention that supports the entire agricultural value chain.”

My country, India, is a major agricultural producer. It subsidizes 85% of electricity cost to its farmers. Recently Punjab province suffered a power shortage. Authorities had to cut power supply to industry to protect agriculture.

Providing reliable, affordable electricity to farmers is not enough. Food processors and distributors need it, too. But solar and wind cannot meet the requirement. Overdependence on them imperils food supply.

This underlies what’s happening in China. Power blackouts have been felt “where about half of China’s corn and soybeans are grown,” Blomberg reported. “The crisis is stoking concern that China will have a tough time handling crops … this year  ….”

Wind and Solar: Obstacles to Dependable Power for Food Industries

What’s wrong with wind and solar? They are unpredictable. They cannot provide on-demand electricity 24/7/365. In peak hours or during cold snaps or heat waves, they are prone to failure. Indeed, they can fail any time without notice. If wind stops or clouds roll in, they generate nothing. For a seamless food production chain, renewables should be your last energy choice.

Driven by exaggerated fears of climate change, major agricultural countries increasingly invest in renewable energy. But that diverts money from conventional sources like coal and nuclear. As a result, they increasingly face electricity failures that could have been avoided.

China has brought large amounts of wind and solar online. The result? Major power blackouts, especially in industrial hubs. This is a main reason for the disruption in China’s food industry.

My country is a global leader in solar energy. Yet coal accounts for more than 70 percent of India’s electricity. Billions of dollars spent on solar and wind could have improved coal supplies for reliable, affordable electricity. But now we face higher risk of blackouts. Why? Because money spent on solar can’t be spent on coal. Ironically, wind and solar are called “green.” Yet they weaken agriculture and threaten global food security. There’s nothing “green” about that.

Photo by amol sonar on Unsplash.