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imported grain, dramatically reducing their need for water to irrigate crops. Notably,
Saudi Arabia and other Arabian Gulf nations import a large fraction of their grain
from overseas including the USA. Other countries like Iran have chosen to attempt
self-sufficiency in bulk grains despite an adverse climate and supply situation,
because they do not trust western grain suppliers. Bulk grain has been overproduced
and exported by nations like the USA as a geopolitical strategy both to ensure food
self-sufficiency, and to allow for food aid to nations suffering famine, and to create
political leverage through foreign food dependencies on the USA. Food, like energy
and water, can be a tool of power.
Quite a few academic papers detail the extent of this field by providing literature
reviews summarizing the work done in various aspects of food supply chain systems
(Chandirasekaran 2017; Cunningham 2001; Liljestrand and Fredriksson 2015;
Shukla and Jharkharia 2013; Handayati et al. 2015). Another resource providing
essential information by detailing the conceptual model of US food supply chain
system is recently published by the National Research Council (2015). Other
sources used for this section are Nature Conservancy (2016), Septani et al. (2016),
and Van der Vorst et al. (2007).
10.3.2 Energy: Coal (and Mining Products)
The ore is extracted from surface and underground mines. In the case of coal, majority of the ore comes from surface mining operations. Extracted ore is then transferred to processing plants where it undergoes both physical and chemical
transformation. This process involves, crushing, removing impurities and producing
different ore for different purposes. Extraction to loading station transfers are mostly
achieved through conveyor belts, trams or trucks. Processed ore is stored in stock
piles or storage tanks and shipped through ore loading stations. Freight trains transport 70% of the coal in the USA, and barges and ships are used when applicable.
Trucks are not frequently used for coal transportation.
Processed ore is shipped to various industrial facilities that are used for manufacturing, production and power generation (coal) to be consumed. It also is shipped to
wholesale merchants to be sold to secondary customers. Statistics from 2017 show
that 92% of the coal is used for power generation, 7.2% is used by other industrial
customers and only less than 2% is consumed by commercial and residential customers (US EIA 2017). In extraction, processing and consumption stages waste
(FC: 5565000) is generated as well as wastewater (FC: 3330000) and reclaimed
water (FC: 3340000). Transfer to retail and consumer stages are achieved through
trains, trucks and tankers (from overseas sources).
In FEWSION database mining products are listed under industrial sector (FC
4400000) with five sub categories such as stone, natural sand, gravel, non-metallic
minerals and metallic minerals (FCs: 4401010—4401014). However, fossil fuels
such as coal (FC: 2211015) and coal n.e.c. (FC: 2216019) that are also illustrated in
this supply-chain diagram have their own FEWSION categories under fossil fuels
sub sector of energy sector.
B. L. Ruddell et al.
imported grain, dramatically reducing their need for water to irrigate crops. Notably,
Saudi Arabia and other Arabian Gulf nations import a large fraction of their grain
from overseas including the USA. Other countries like Iran have chosen to attempt
self-sufficiency in bulk grains despite an adverse climate and supply situation,
because they do not trust western grain suppliers. Bulk grain has been overproduced
and exported by nations like the USA as a geopolitical strategy both to ensure food
self-sufficiency, and to allow for food aid to nations suffering famine, and to create
political leverage through foreign food dependencies on the USA. Food, like energy
and water, can be a tool of power.
Quite a few academic papers detail the extent of this field by providing literature
reviews summarizing the work done in various aspects of food supply chain systems
(Chandirasekaran 2017; Cunningham 2001; Liljestrand and Fredriksson 2015;
Shukla and Jharkharia 2013; Handayati et al. 2015). Another resource providing
essential information by detailing the conceptual model of US food supply chain
system is recently published by the National Research Council (2015). Other
sources used for this section are Nature Conservancy (2016), Septani et al. (2016),
and Van der Vorst et al. (2007).
10.3.2 Energy: Coal (and Mining Products)
The ore is extracted from surface and underground mines. In the case of coal, majority of the ore comes from surface mining operations. Extracted ore is then transferred to processing plants where it undergoes both physical and chemical
transformation. This process involves, crushing, removing impurities and producing
different ore for different purposes. Extraction to loading station transfers are mostly
achieved through conveyor belts, trams or trucks. Processed ore is stored in stock
piles or storage tanks and shipped through ore loading stations. Freight trains transport 70% of the coal in the USA, and barges and ships are used when applicable.
Trucks are not frequently used for coal transportation.
Processed ore is shipped to various industrial facilities that are used for manufacturing, production and power generation (coal) to be consumed. It also is shipped to
wholesale merchants to be sold to secondary customers. Statistics from 2017 show
that 92% of the coal is used for power generation, 7.2% is used by other industrial
customers and only less than 2% is consumed by commercial and residential customers (US EIA 2017). In extraction, processing and consumption stages waste
(FC: 5565000) is generated as well as wastewater (FC: 3330000) and reclaimed
water (FC: 3340000). Transfer to retail and consumer stages are achieved through
trains, trucks and tankers (from overseas sources).
In FEWSION database mining products are listed under industrial sector (FC
4400000) with five sub categories such as stone, natural sand, gravel, non-metallic
minerals and metallic minerals (FCs: 4401010—4401014). However, fossil fuels
such as coal (FC: 2211015) and coal n.e.c. (FC: 2216019) that are also illustrated in
this supply-chain diagram have their own FEWSION categories under fossil fuels
sub sector of energy sector.
B. L. Ruddell et al.