# Energy in farming: Overview

How diesel, power and gas help sunlight grow our food

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/overview/

What this tile covers Irrigation pumps, fertiliser and draught power: how energy grows food. Share of use 2.5% share of final energy use (2022)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Agriculture used 2.5% of world final energy in 2022 (on-farm fuel and electricity only; fertiliser manufacture sits in industry). Source: [Renewables 2025 Global Status Report: Agriculture](https://www.ren21.net/gsr/2025/agriculture), REN21.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (natural gas) → ammonia → higher photosynthetic output |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Crop farming
- Livestock
- Diesel, electric and solar irrigation pumps
- Fertiliser use

#### Linked to the material world
[Ur Urea](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/urea/)[NH3 Ammonia](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonia/)[Wh Wheat](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/wheat/)[Ri Rice](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/rice/)

#### Also in Industry, buildings and farms
[HI Energy-intensive industry](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_heavy_industry/)[Bld Energy in buildings](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_buildings/)[DC Data centres](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_data_centres/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_agri_energy/links/index.md)