"We need to understand that food is fundamentally tied to fossil fuels".

The article discusses the intricate relationship between food production and fossil fuels, emphasizing the significant role of fossil fuels in the current food system. Vaclav Smil, an energy and food researcher, highlights the inefficiencies and waste in food production, which contribute to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen pollution, and water scarcity. Smil suggests multifaceted and incremental steps to make food production more sustainable, including better management of resources, reducing waste, and improving the quality of food consumed. The article also touches on the importance of personal dietary choices and the potential role of new technologies, such as lab-grown meat, in creating a more sustainable food system. [Extracted from the article]