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ACTION IN AGRICULTURE
Agriculture and forestry production are The Paris Agreement, a blueprint for climate
the sources of nearly one quarter of global action, was adopted by 188 countries representing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The majority 98 percent of the global population and almost 99
of agricultural emissions are from deforestation percent of all global GHG emissions. Countries
and land use change (the conversion of forest to have created commitments (Intended Nationally
croplands or grazing lands), methane produced Determined Contributions, or INDCs) for actions
by livestock and poor soil management. As if the they will take to achieve national targets for a
challenge were not already daunting enough, the low-carbon, climate resilient future. INDCs require
need to reduce these emissions comes at a time regular reporting on emissions and progress made
when a rising global middle class is demanding a to implement their plans.
wider variety of foods and more livestock-based
products. While agricultural production is a significant
source of emissions, agriculture itself can also
Farmers, ranchers, forest managers and agricultural serve as a force to mitigate greenhouse gases.
businesses are in the unique position of being Focusing on improving agricultural productivity is
among the most vulnerable to climate change a vital first step in reducing agricultures overall
while simultaneously being in the best position to
environmental and GHG impacts. Certain farming
help mitigate it. Agricultural producers are already
practices and innovative and precision agriculture
adjusting to meet this challenge, but more action
technologies can mitigate GHG emissions, primarily
is urgently needed; solutions applied today will not
through improved crop production, cropland and
have a significant mitigating impact until 2040.
grazing land management, livestock emissions
The year 2015 was a critical one for international management, restoration of degraded lands and soil
climate negotiations, and culminated in the adoption carbon sequestration. Other key strategies include
in December of the Paris Climate Agreement improving water and rice management, and crop
at the COP21 (21st Session of the Conference nutrient and livestock manure management. GHG
of Parties). Scheduled to enter force in 2020, emissions can also be reduced by substituting fossil
it strengthens the resolve to limit the global fuels with agricultural feedstocks such as biodiesel
temperature increase to under 2 degrees Celsius. and biofuels.
www.globalharvestinitiative.org 17
Innovative agricultural mechanization and precision
systems some in development, others already A CARBON NEUTRAL FUTURE
available on the market will help farmers apply
fertilizers more efficiently and variable rate irrigation In December 2015, Monsanto Company
will reduce water use. Innovation in weed-control announced a corporate commitment of
systems enables reductions in tillage and adoption becoming carbon neutral by 2021. The company
of cover crops that sequesters more carbon in soils. commissioned life-cycle assessment (LCA)
These are only a few examples of the emerging studies at both the national level (U.S.) and at
practices, innovations and integrated systems that the individual field level to better understand
are transforming agriculture into a climate change which crop-based strategies have the greatest
mitigation powerhouse. potential to reduce GHG emissions. Many
of Monsantos seed production and farmer
Private sector investment, innovation and scale customers are planning to implement GHG
will help more farmers, ranchers and forest reducing products (nitrogen stabilizers, soil
managers access these tools and contribute amendments and advanced germplasm) and
to a low-carbon agriculture system. practices (precision agriculture systems, variable
rate input use, swath control, reduced tillage
The value that society places on reducing GHG and cover crop use). Work is underway that will
emissions is leading to consumer demand for demonstrate the impacts of these practices on
Rice and cattle farm in Uruguay. climate friendly production methods and supply productivity, profitability and risk.
Credit: Neil Palmer, CIAT chains. By voting with their shopping carts, they
are sending a message to food retailers, starting To track progress, Monsanto is partnering with
a cascade of market signals that reach all the way academic and third party experts to develop a
to the producer level. Consumers are demanding, scalable and verifiable carbon accounting
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR CLIMATE for example, that food retailers provide information framework that offers a transparent system
LEADERSHIP about which foods are the most climate-friendly, for reporting GHG reductions from use of
and producers and agricultural businesses along the these products and practices, which will count
Climate change has become a leading risk factor value chain should seize opportunities to collaborate towards offsetting Monsantos annual goal. This
for producers and industries along the agricultural with trusted partners in providing transparent, approach, which is common in the coffee and
value chain. With unpredictable conditions, current science-based and verifiable data to support GHG chocolate industries, has been referred to as
business models may become irrelevant, leading reduction claims. GHG insetting (similar to offsetting except
to greater market uncertainty. On the other hand,
they are generated and retired within the supply
the need to address and mitigate climate change The following stories demonstrate how global chain for row-crop products).
also provides businesses with a new range of agribusinesses can contribute to a low-carbon
opportunities. agriculture system by changing how they operate, The company has also established an internal
reducing the GHG impact of the products they price of carbon that is factored into its strategic
As the impacts of climate change unfolds across produce, partnering with farmers, conservation decision-making and investments. Implementing
agricultural regions, a growing number of farmers organizations and government agencies to improve a shadow price on carbon increases the
will need crops that have greater tolerance to heat, productivity, water quality and protect wildlife and competitiveness of climate-friendly investments
drought and require less water. Livestock farmers employing cutting-edge technology to increase relative to more carbon-intensive alternatives.
will need genetically improved breeds and new livestock productivity while reducing methane
products such as protease enzymes that reduce emissions.
livestock emissions and help manage manure.
WILDLIFE
1.6
1.4
Since the 1980s, farmers have produced
1.2 more rice using less water, energy and
Rice is the worlds most widely consumed 1.0 land acreage, along with a reduction
grain, sustaining approximately half of the global Greenhouse 0.8 Soil in soil erosion and greenhouse gas.
population. Nearly half of the rice produced in the Gases 0.6 Erosion Rice growers in the U.S. now use the
U.S. is exported. With 2.77 million acres under rice 0.4
latest in proven irrigation and production
production (2015), U.S. rice growers are stewards 0.2
practices, saving water and generating
of wetlands used by North Americas waterfowl carbon emission credits as part of
and 32 other at-risk species. An environmentally Californias carbon cap-and-trade market.
sustainable approach to producing rice not
only protects wildlife and the resource base,
but also helps achieve global food security. 5 year average 19801984
5 year average 19871991
5 year average 19972001
As the worlds leader in wetlands conservation, 5 year average 20072011
Ducks Unlimited (DU) counts the rice industry Energy Irrigation
Water Applied
as a key partner in sustaining the future
of waterfowl. The compatibility of on-farm Source: Field to Market, 2012 Environmental and Socioeconomic Indicators Report, Rice.
conservation practices that improve water quality,
farm profitability and wildlife habitat led DU
Field to Market is a diverse alliance working across the agricultural supply chain for continuous improvements in
to join forces with USA Rice to form the Rice productivity, environmental quality and human well-being, and provides collaborative leadership that engages in
Stewardship Partnership. The Mosaic Company industry-wide dialogue, grounded in science and open to the full range of technology choices.
Foundation has provided key funding for the
partnerships work in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley,
where most of the U.S. rice crop is grown.
the field level to achieve optimal crop uptake of
Working with the U.S. Natural Resources
nutrients while minimizing environmental impacts.
Conservation Service, the Rice Stewardship
Partnership helps farmers meet the increasing There are numerous other environmental
demand for rice while improving environmental benefits of the program. Water use efficiency
performance and farm profitability and preserving recommendations, including alternative irrigation
wetland resources. Collaborating with leading
strategies, help conserve water and reduce
agricultural, conservation and environmental
demand on surface and groundwater resources.
organizations, the partnership equips rice
producers with the support, knowledge, tools and The partnership promotes practices that minimize
practices to improve farm management and water energy consumption, reduce diesel fuel use
quality, thereby reducing the level of nutrients lost and improve rice crop residue management
to the Mississippi River. Mosaics interest in the all of which translate to reduced GHG emissions GreenHouse Gases per cwt
The Rice Stewardship Partnership delivers conservation
program stems from a desire to promote the 4R and improved air quality. These efforts support the
and greenhouse gas mitigation practices that improve
Nutrient Stewardship framework (Right Nutrient farmers profitability by maximizing the efficiency farmer profitability and meet the global demand for food.
Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place) at of inputs and reducing costs. Credit: Mike Checkett
www.globalharvestinitiative.org 19
Improving Feed Lowers GHG Impact of Dairy and Poultry
Methane from animal agriculture, particularly emitted from ruminants (cattle and
sheep) is a major contributor to greenhouse gas. As demand for dairy products
grow worldwide, every effort must be made to reduce the amount of emitted
methane per cow while increasing milk output.
Supplements added to feed for livestock can greatly reduce the climate impact of
livestock production. DSM Nutritional Products, a Dutch company, developed
a methane inhibitor product (3-nitrooxypropanol, or 3NOP) and is collaborating
with an international team of researchers at Pennsylvania State University to
test the impact on milk production in dairy cows. 3NOP was added to feed of
Holstein cows; milk protein and lactose yields were increased by 3NOP in feed,
while methane emission was reduced by 30 percent over cows not given the
feed additive.25
Global demand for poultry is also rising rapidly, along with a growth in demand
for feed and nitrogen fertilizers to produce the feed. In the poultry industry,
producers are seeking to improve feed so that protein (amino acid) content
and uptake is optimized rather than wasted in manure, where it is converted
to ammonia nitrate and nitrous oxide, which are potent greenhouse gases. The
inefficiency of feeds also costs producers money, as more feed is required per
bird.
To help make the poultry value chain more productive for farmers and to reduce
the climate impact of manure and feed production, Novozymes, the worlds
largest provider of enzyme technologies, is developing products such as protease
enzymes that provide significant nutritional benefits. Proteases are added to
feed to increase dietary protein uptake by poultry and improve nitrogen utilization
in digestion. This in turn leads to less feed required per bird, and the reduction of
nitrogen content in their manure. In addition, by requiring less feed, farmers can
reduce production costs and improve profitability.26
With the ability of the private sector to bring improved feed products more
widely to scale, livestock production should see a substantial reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions, with the added benefit of making feed more effective
for livestock consumption, along with improved operational profitability.
000 hectares
Net annual average change
will require highly productive landscapes that are 1000 in forest area
managed sustainably. Forests play key roles in the
water cycle, soil conservation, carbon sequestration 0 Net annual average change
and habitat protection, including for pollinators. In in agricultrual area
high-income countries, the overall expansion of -1000
agricultural production has slowed significantly, yet
global agriculture remains the most significant -2000
driver of deforestation,27 and there is an urgent
need to promote more positive interactions -3000
between agriculture and forestry. High Upper Lower Low
Middle Middle
As farmers and ranchers expand into native habitat,
Source: FAO, 2016.
they clear forest and convert native habitat (including
grasslands) to bring new land under production. Note on methodology: The figure covers those countries and territories for which data were available on both agricultural area (FAOSTAT3
Forested areas are on average declining relative website (available at http://faostat3.fao.org) and forest area (FAO, Global forest resources assessment 2015, Rome (available at www.fao.org/
to agricultural areas in most countries around the forest-resources-assessment/en). Countries with significant inconsistencies in the reported data were excluded from the analyses. The figure
uses income categories as defined by the World Bank (http://data.worldbank.org/news/new-country-classifications) and does not take into account
world, with the exception of high-income countries changes in income categories over the period 20002010.
(Figure 9).28 -4000
-4000
www.globalharvestinitiative.org 21
Compacts for Green Growth So Flix do Xingu, a large municipality in southern deforestation by 2020. TNC is bringing the GGC
Par, covers 8.4 million hectares (almost the size perspective to this plan, engaging deeply with the
in the Amazon
of Portugal) and has a population of about 107,000 government on key elements, to be completed in
A Green Growth Compact (GGC) is a multi- people and the largest cattle herd in Brazil about 2016 with implementation beginning thereafter. The
stakeholder arrangement that can be applied in 2.2 million head. The areas deforestation rate has approach serves as an exciting model of how key
jurisdictions around the world. It brings together been one of the countrys highest, driven largely by actors can come together to promote economic
producers, government, companies, financial traditional, low-yield cattle ranching and agriculture. growth, social inclusion and environmental
institutions and other influential stakeholders to sustainability in one, mutually supportive agenda.
support alignment of conservation, development, TNC helped the municipal government register
production and social inclusion. The goal is to almost 90 percent of its land with CAR, paving the
increase productivity and profitability for small- way for information to influence other agencies
scale farmers and other value chain actors while and companies to implement actions that reduce
protecting natural habitats and increasing carbon deforestation in the municipality.
storage.
As a result of this and of further government actions
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has undertaken such as the Green Municipalities Program, the
the GGC approach in Brazils Southeastern Par deforestation rate in So Felix has now dropped to
State, which is on the front lines of Amazonian about 25,000 hectares per year, a nearly 80 percent
deforestation that is being driven by cattle ranching reduction from the 19992008 average.
to meet the growing global demand for beef. This
is done by working in partnership with farmers, Under the GGC approach, these policies have been
ranchers and food producers, at significant volumes augmented with incentives and opportunities for
over large landscapes, and providing them with low-carbon growth, such as sustainably intensifying
tools, resources and a value proposition to transition cattle ranching and expanding cocoa plantations in
to sustainable production. It all takes place within a degraded areas, that can increase production and
framework for strong environmental commitments, rural incomes without clearing forests. To advance
a clear business case for sustainability, and these more sustainable systems, TNC is working
governance and conservation actions that limit with retailers such as Walmart and Marfrig to
activity on frontier areas that are most sensitive to eliminate deforestation from their beef supply
land use conversion. chains and with Cargill to expand cocoa production.
TNC also works with indigenous peoples in So A farmer rides through the forest behind his farm in So
The Brazilian Forest Code, which strictly limits Flix to support their management of their lands in Flix do Xingu. In 2011, the Par government launched the
deforestation, requires that all private lands are conformity with Brazils policy and local community Green Municipalities Program to reduce deforestation and
registered in the Rural Environmental Registry goals. support sustainable agriculture and ranching, landscape
(CAR in Portuguese). Registration, along with planning and land titling. In 2013, Par established the
satellite and other mapping technology, enables Going forward, Par State has launched a process to Green Value Added Tax formula, in which existing forest
develop a new economic development plan through area and percentage of CAR registration were added as
the government to link deforestation with
criteria for allocating tax revenues to municipalities.
actual properties and property owners, creating 2030 (called Par 2030). The plan calls for deeper
This additional source of revenue (potentially climbing to
accountability. Government policies to protect land investment and economic growth across a dozen $1 million per year for So Flix do Xingu over the next
have frozen further expansion to the west in Par key industry sectors, including several that have three years) provides further incentives to reduce
State; however, deforestation on private lands and large land-use impacts, such as cattle, agriculture deforestation.
pressure on public and indigenous lands remain and forestry. At the same time, the Governor of Credit: Kevin Arnold
significant. Par has committed publicly to achieve net zero
www.globalharvestinitiative.org 23