Decarbonising Agriculture: Reducing Emissions Through Better Farm Practices
The agricultural sector contributes to more than one-quarter ( about 24% ) of the world’s GHG emissions. The IPCC report on the impacts of global warming clearly states that a “rapid and far-reaching” transition is required to limit the impact of climate change to 1.5 degrees. Achieving these goals can be more challenging for the agricultural sector than others as it requires the collective effort of more than two billion people who depend on farming for their survival. Alongside climate goals, it must contemplate nutrition needs, food security, and the livelihood of farmers and farming communities. Major sources of GHG emissions in agriculture are: Methane emissions - Agricultural emissions are primarily the result of ruminant animals (principally cows and sheep), farming practices, and rice production. Ruminants create methane during digestion, along with CO2 and other gases. The impact is significant: ruminants account for almost 70 per cent of agricultural emissions . They are re