In a startling revelation a new report by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) has uncovered how fossil fuels are silently powering our food systems, from farm to fork. Titled “Fuel to Fork: What Will it Take to Get Fossil Fuels Out of Our Food Systems?”, the report released on June 25, 2025, finds that food production now accounts for as much as 40% of global petrochemical use, making it one of the most fossil-fuel dependent industries worldwide.
From synthetic fertilisers and pesticides to plastic packaging and cooking fuels, oil and gas are embedded at every stage of the food chain. The report paints a grim picture: our global dinner plates are now firmly tethered to oil rigs and conflict zones, with dire consequences for the climate and global food security.
From Oil Wells to Supermarkets
The report highlights that 34% of all petrochemicals are used just to produce synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, while 6% are consumed by the plastics industry both critical components of the modern food economy. This means agriculture and food systems consume a staggering 40% of global petrochemical output, more than heavy industries like steel, mining, or paper.
“Petrochemicals have become the single largest driver of oil demand growth,” the report states, “and with other sectors beginning to decarbonise, food systems are now keeping fossil fuels afloat.”
The United States, the EU and other wealthy nations use 10 times more fertiliser per capita than low-income countries. And the fossil fuel industry is setting its sights on Global South expansion, as fertiliser demand is projected to rise 50% by 2050, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The largest share of fossil fuel consumption comes from so-called mid-chain activities the transformation, packaging, transportation, and retailing of food accounting for 42% of fossil fuel usage in the food supply chain. Plastics, especially those used in ultra-processed food packaging, dominate the scene.
Asia, led by China, has become the world’s largest market for plastic food packaging, with the region driving global demand into 2030. Food transport, often criticized for its “food miles,” was found to contribute only 4.8% of food-related emissions, highlighting that the bigger issue lies upstream in processing and production.
The Cost of Fossil-Fuel Tied Food: Hunger, Pollution, Injustice
The report argues that our deep dependence on fossil fuels has made food prices volatile and vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. “When oil prices rise, so does hunger,” said IPES-Food expert Raj Patel. “That’s the peril of a food system addicted to fossil fuels.”
The report arrives at a time of heightened conflict and surging energy prices. Experts warn that continued links between food and fossil fuels could expose billions to price spikes, hunger, and instability.
Adding to the alarm, the report reveals that $2 trillion in public funds go toward subsidizing fossil fuels, while an additional $540 billion supports agriculture, most of it tied to chemical-intensive monoculture. Fertiliser subsidies alone have led to up to 17% of nitrogen pollution in water bodies over the last three decades.
Digital Agriculture: A False Fix?
The report also cautions against the emerging trend of “climate-smart” digital agriculture. While often marketed as part of the solution, the approach risks locking food systems into fossil fuel use, thanks to data centres with huge energy demands and continued reliance on synthetic chemicals — just used more “precisely.”
Despite the fact that food systems account for nearly one-third of all global greenhouse gas emissions, their fossil fuel foundation was ignored at COP28 in Dubai. While countries pledged to phase out fossil fuels in energy systems, food was left out of the climate conversation.
“This is a critical blind spot,” the authors warn, urging governments to make food systems a central issue at COP30 in Brazil. They call for a phase-out of fossil fuel and agrochemical subsidies, and a shift toward agroecology, local food economies, and shorter supply chains.
Conclusion: Fossil Fuels Are Feeding More Than Just Cars They’re Feeding Us
The report leaves little room for doubt: our global food system is entangled with fossil fuels at every level and it’s worsening both the climate crisis and global food insecurity. To feed the world without fuelling disaster, experts say governments must act urgently to untangle this toxic relationship.
“It’s not just about what’s on our plate,” the report concludes, “but about who holds the power to produce it and at what cost to the planet and future generations.”