Fossilisation and Fuelisation of Food

GS-III | Agriculture | Indian Economy | Energy Security | Climate Change | Food Security | Sustainable Agriculture

Introduction

• Changing agricultural practices: The “fossilization” of farming and the “fuelization” of food have created vulnerability in India’s agricultural sector due to both war and climate.
• Agriculture in 1950-51: At that time (1950-51), there were barely 8,500 tractors operating within the nation, and the amount of chemical fertilizer used was 69,800 tons in terms of N, P, and K.
• Present agricultural scenario: Whereas, the number of tractors used by India is estimated to be over 12 million units as of 2025-26, while the country consumed 33.5 million tons of nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic fertilizers during that same period.

Fossilisation of Indian Agriculture

• Agriculture Mechanization: Bullocks were overwhelmingly used by farmers to plow their fields, walk on top of the harvested crops to separate the grains from the straw, use carts to carry the produce and operate the rahat or Persian wheel that would allow them to pull water out of the well so they could irrigate.
• The growing use of machinery: With the number of tractors in India having exceeded 1.2 crore, and with 11.6 lakh tractors being sold between April 2025 and March 2026, the use of bullocks for both field work and transport is becoming increasingly obsolete. For example, the majority of harvesting and threshing is now being performed using combine harvesters. Also, the traditional water lifting device called ‘rahat’ is now being replaced with either an electric pump or a diesel-powered pump.
• Increasing fertiliser consumption: The amount of fertilizer used in India has increased significantly over the years. In the year 2025-26, the total amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) used was approximately 33.5 million metric tons. Of this total, about 67.5 percent came from two types of fertilizers; Urea, which contains 46 percent nitrogen, and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), which contains 46 percent phosphorus.
• The use of petroleum-based crop protection products: The raw materials used to produce many of the active ingredients in insecticides, herbicides and fungicides (crop protection products) include benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylene and propylene; all of which are produced from naphtha. Many of the solvents, emulsifiers and surfactants that allow us to combine, mix and stabilize these active ingredients into consistent sprayable formulations, are also primarily petroleum-based.

Impact of Wars on Agricultural Inputs

• Higher cost of natural gas: The conflict in West Asia and the Black Sea area has increased the cost of liquid natural gas (LNG), which is used as a raw material for urea and other N-containing fertilizers, to be shipped by sea to Northeast Asia from approximately $11 to $30 per MMBtu.
• Naphtha price increases: Prices for northwest european naphtha increased by 395-400 per ton from 515-520 per ton last year to 910-915 per ton this year.
• Sulphur price increases: Without sulphur (a by-product of oil refining and natural gas processing), there can be no manufacture of DAP, SSP, or any other fertilizers containing phosphorus (P).
• The impact of geopolitical conflicts: Until about 2021, India imported sulfur for less than $300 a ton — in some cases for less than $100 in 2019 and 2020. Prices increased to 400-500 per ton in March-June 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With Ukraine increasing their use of drones and missiles to attack Russian oil refineries and natural gas facilities, and Iran attacking the energy infrastructure of its neighbors along the Persian Gulf, the price of sulfur (which used to be cheap) has risen to 1,000-1,100 per ton.

Fuelisation of Food

• Meaning of fuelisation of food: The “fueling” of food means that agricultural products are diverted from consumption to become a raw material for biofuels. In essence, it is the opposite of using fossil fuels as an energy source, because now agriculture will be providing energy to us rather than consuming it.
• Impact of rising crude oil prices: As the price of Brent crude oil rises above $100 per barrel, there will be an increased motivation to divert food crops to produce biofuels.
• Ethanol Production: Ethanol is manufactured in India using sugar cane, rice, maize, and additional starchy cereal crops. Ethanol has been approved for use as a blend in gasoline up to 20 percent.
• Biodiesel manufacturing: Vegetable oil can be converted into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) that can then be mixed with conventional petroleum diesel.
• International Example: Beginning July, Indonesia made a requirement that 50% of the palm oil derived FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) be added to each gallon of diesel purchased in Indonesia.
• Food safety issues: Redirecting food crops for biofuel generation will result in a conflict of interest in terms of providing food vs. providing fuel.

Climate Change and El Niño: A Double Shock

• Potential El Niño impact: The potential for a “very strong” El Nino to test the limits of fuelization of food is high.
• Combined Supply Shock: If there are two combined supply shocks, then the agricultural sector will take most of the hit.
• Historical example of twin shocks: The most recent twin shock experienced by India was during the 1979-80 period, as a result of a 12.8 percent contraction in the agriculture sector and an increase of twice the amount of money spent on importing oil due to the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
• Diversification of agriculture: The resilience of Indian agriculture has been greatly enhanced since 1979-80, as a result of its increased diversity. In addition to the traditional field crops, an increasing portion of farm income is derived from dairy products, poultry, aquatic species (aquaculture), and fruits and vegetables (horticulture).
• Expansion of Irrigation: In 1979-80, only 29% of the total land used for crops was irrigated; in 1950-51, only 17.1% of the total land used for crops was irrigated. Currently, however, approximately 56% of the total land used for crops is irrigated.
• Reduced Vulnerability: Therefore, the dual shocks of war and El Nino will not likely result in major reductions in agricultural production as have occurred in previous years.

Implications for Indian Agriculture

• Import reliance: India relies heavily on imports for its energy requirements (oil & gas), raw material inputs for manufacturing fertilizers (such as ammonia, rock phosphate, sulfur and muriate of potash), and technical-grade active ingredients & intermediate components used to produce crop protection chemicals.
• Low nutrient use efficiency: A small portion (one-third) of the 46% nitrogen found in urea is taken up by plants; the remaining portion goes up into the atmosphere as ammonia gas or down into the soil as nitrate.
• Phosphorus loss: While the DAP applied provides 46 percent of the total amount of phosphorus that plants need, over three-quarters of this amount becomes “trapped” in the soil and is therefore unusable by the plant roots for the duration of the growing season.
• Energy and climate crisis: The consequences of an energy/climate crisis on Indian agriculture cannot be overlooked.

Way Forward

• Reducing fertiliser consumption: First, there are opportunities to decrease the amount of urea and DAP used as fertilizers because both of these types of fertilizers have very low nutrient utilization rates.
• Balanced fertilizer application: Focus must be placed upon the gradual replacement of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) with ammonium sulfate and complex fertilizers containing a better balance of nutrients, less loss of nitrogen through volatilization and leaching, and less phosphorus locked up in the soil.
• Further enhance nutrient uptake: Biostimulants will also allow for the additional enhancement of plant nutrient absorption and intake through an increase in root surface area and modification of a plant’s metabolic processes.
• Lowering chemical pesticide use: A similar method – to activate the internal defense and adaptive responses of plants (like vaccines) – can lower chemical pesticide usage.
• Sustainable irrigation: Irrigation also needs to gradually switch over to using solar-powered pumps and drip systems.
• Regulating biofuel production: The Modi government has already regulated biofuel production by banning the use of sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses to make ethanol. With El Nino approaching, it is likely that the Modi government will soon regulate grain production as well.

Conclusion

• Agricultural vulnerabilities: War and weather reveal the vulnerability of Indian agriculture on two sides – ‘fossilization’ of farming and ‘fuelization’ of food.
• Agricultural resilience: Thus, the twin impacts of wars and El Niño are not expected to result in large decreases in agricultural production as have been experienced previously.
• Policy response: Policymakers should take note of the ongoing energy-and-climate shocks.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “War and Weather are exposing Indian agriculture’s vulnerabilities on two fronts: fossilization of farming and fuelization of food.” Discuss the impacts of both of these issues on Indian agriculture and the steps needed to provide sustainable agricultural production and food security.

Prepare for UPSC Prelims with Prelims Current Affairs . Strengthen your Environment and Ecology preparation with exam-focused current affairs and expert guidance.

Boost your UPSC preparation with the UPSC Mentorship Program 2027–2028 by Riyasat IAS Mentorship. Get personalised guidance, answer-writing feedback, and a structured strategy for Prelims and Mains.