SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
Institutions: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
The World Food Programme (WFP) in a new study “The role of clean energy in food value chains” highlights how access to clean energy, particularly solar power, can transform every stage of the food value chain, from land preparation and irrigation to processing, storage, and distribution. The report notes that while initial costs remain high, renewable energy systems often deliver faster economic returns than fossil-fuel alternatives, especially in rural and off-grid contexts.
Investing in clean energy creates employment opportunities for youth and improves food security and resilience. However, designing effective energy-access programs faces significant hurdles in fragile or underserved contexts, where market systems are often weak due to isolation, poverty, and instability. To overcome these challenges, strengthening local delivery networks, involving small enterprises, and designing energy systems that reflect social and cultural realities are crucial.
The study underscores that in many low-income regions, energy poverty limits agricultural productivity, cold-chain capacity, and market access. Integrating clean energy into food systems can cut post-harvest losses, create local value addition, and enhance both nutrition and climate resilience.
The findings call for cross-sectoral coordination between energy, agriculture, and finance policies. For India, this means aligning PM-KUSUM, Rural Electrification, and Mission for Integrated Cold Chain Development under a green food systems approach that supports smallholder farmers through solar-powered processing units and credit-linked clean-energy investments.
What is a Food Value Chain? → A food value chain links production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. Clean energy matters because reliable power at each stage raises efficiency, reduces waste, and supports sustainable livelihoods.
Follow the full report here: Clean Energy in Food Value Chain
https://www.wfp.org/publications/role-clean-energy-food-value-chains