Creating a Roadmap for Achieving Zero-Emissions Agriculture

In order to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, technological innovation and investment will be essential, according to a recent study by Carnegie Staff Associate Lorenzo Rosa and Visiting Scholar Paolo Gabrielli. Their findings, published in Environmental Research Letters, highlight the need for strategies to reduce agricultural emissions and address the impact of climate change on farming.

“Currently, farming accounts for approximately 12% of global greenhouse emissions,” explained Rosa. “Agriculture not only contributes significantly to climate change, but also experiences the negative effects, such as warming, drought, and altered precipitation patterns.”

Rosa and Gabrielli analyzed various technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, focusing on methane and nitrous oxide, which have a greater warming potential than carbon dioxide. They investigated methods such as alternative energy sources on farms, sustainable fertilizers and pesticides, fertilizer management, livestock methane emissions reduction strategies, and rice cultivation techniques that minimize methane production.

The researchers emphasize the importance of using carbon-free energy sources in agricultural decarbonization strategies. This includes integrating renewable energy systems into farms and developing sustainable methods for producing fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals. Additionally, implementing smart and sustainable irrigation practices can improve water sustainability and reduce energy consumption and methane emissions associated with rice cultivation.

Rosa and Gabrielli found that technology could help reduce agricultural greenhouse gas pollution by up to 45%. However, achieving zero carbon emissions will require expensive carbon dioxide removal strategies that are not widely deployed at present.

Promising approaches include sustainably produced bioenergy combined with capturing emissions from these energy sources in geological formations. Another possibility is accelerating the natural rock erosion process, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These technologies have the potential to transform farming from a sector that contributes to carbon emissions into one that removes it. The study also explores novel technologies such as methane removal and farm-free production of certain foods.

Rosa and Gabrielli stress the need for further research to make these strategies affordable, scalable, and to understand their broader impacts. They also highlight the interdisciplinary nature of achieving sustainable agriculture, requiring expertise in plant science, hydrology, engineering, economics, and political science.

By examining the intersection of agriculture and climate change from multiple angles, Rosa and Gabrielli aim to build a blueprint that facilitates the shift to net-zero emissions in agriculture. They believe that sustainable agricultural practices not only mitigate climate change but also address energy security, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

 

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