LAUSR

Abstract The paper discusses the implementation of the food and environmental function in agriculture. The author’s method to determine the amount of energy produced by agriculture was used. In 1961–2009 the amount of energy generated by agriculture all over the world increased more than the population, which means that the sector fulfilled the food function. Conducted research leds to the conclusion that on all continents the production of 1000 kcal was accompanied by decreasing emission of greenhouse gases. There are relatively high ecological costs of agricultural energy production in less economically developed regions. This fact points to the need to diffuse progress both in terms of intensified production and pro-environmental activities.