Introduction
Across Uruguay's food system, tractors, irrigation pumps, refrigeration units, and fishing fleets all rely on energy. Monitoring how much fuel these activities consume — and the emissions that follow — helps explain the climate footprint of getting food from field to fork. Rising demand for resilient food supply chains keeps agrifood energy in the spotlight, even as Uruguay pushes for cleaner power and smarter equipment.
Data come from FAO's emissions-from-energy dataset, which harmonises national energy balances and allocates fuel consumption to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.
Overall Agrifood Energy Use
In 2023, Uruguay agrifood energy demand reached 6,970.31 TJ (+85.5 TJ y/y). This signals that farms, fisheries, and forestry operations are scaling up electrification and mechanisation to meet output needs.
Agrifood CO₂ Emissions from Energy
In 2023, energy-related CO₂ from agrifood activities in Uruguay increased to 490.98 kilotonnes (+8.4 kt y/y). This indicates decarbonisation momentum, as diesel and coal use edge lower after the pandemic-era spike.
Energy Use by Fuel
In 2023, Uruguay agrifood producers drew on 856.44 TJ of electricity and 6,113.87 TJ of petroleum products, while combined "other fuels" (excluding electricity and heat) reached 6,113.87 TJ. This reflects renewed pressure from fossil fuels as input prices ease and backup generators remain essential in many regions.
Non-CO₂ Emissions from Energy Use
In 2023, methane (CH₄) linked to agrifood energy in Uruguay was 0.32 kilotonnes, while nitrous oxide (N₂O) measured 0.16 kilotonnes (-0.03 kt and +0.003 kt y/y). This highlights lingering leakage risks in fertiliser storage, grain drying, and post-harvest logistics.
FAQ
Several factors shape agrifood energy use in Uruguay:
- Mechanisation levels: Extensive use of tractors, harvesters, and processing equipment drives electricity and petroleum demand
- Cold chain infrastructure: Refrigeration for storage and transport requires significant electricity
- Fertiliser production: Energy-intensive manufacturing of nitrogen fertilisers contributes to natural gas and electricity consumption
- Greenhouse operations: Climate-controlled growing facilities depend on heating and electricity
- Food processing: Industrial processing, drying, and packaging require substantial energy inputs
- Renewable energy adoption: Uruguay's push for solar and biogas systems influences the fuel mix
Uruguay's agrifood energy consumption stands at 6,970.31 TJ. For comparison with other major markets:
- European Union: 1,103,141.42 TJ
- United States: 821,817 TJ
- China: 1,893,390.32 TJ
- India: 889,694 TJ
- Brazil: 447,453 TJ
Differences reflect variations in agricultural sector size, food processing capacity, and energy infrastructure across markets. Values update automatically as FAO publishes new data.
Uruguay is pursuing several strategies to cut agrifood energy emissions:
- Biogas expansion: Converting agricultural waste to renewable energy reduces fossil fuel dependency
- Precision agriculture: Smart irrigation, GPS-guided equipment, and sensor-based systems improve efficiency
- Electrification: Transitioning farm machinery and processing equipment to electric power
- Energy-efficient infrastructure: Upgrading cold storage, processing facilities, and greenhouse systems
- Renewable energy integration: Solar panels on farm buildings and biogas plants reduce grid dependence
Current non-CO₂ emissions stand at 0.32 kt of methane and 0.16 kt of nitrous oxide, reflecting ongoing efforts to seal leaky systems and optimise fuel use.
Agrifood Energy Emissions in Other Countries
Compare Uruguay's agrifood energy footprint with individual markets to spot diversification opportunities and resilience gaps.
Methodology and Data Sources
All indicators draw on FAO's "Climate Change: Agrifood systems emissions – Emissions from Energy use in agriculture" statistics. The programme harmonises national energy balances, allocates fuels to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture, and reports annual consumption (terajoules) alongside CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions (kilotonnes) from 1970 onwards. Charts and indicators update automatically when FAO publishes new data.