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Agrifood Emissions
Context:
According to the World Bank, annual investments of $260 billion are required to halve the agrifood emissions by 2030.
The World Bank recently released a report, Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agrifood System.
Findings of the Report:
- The world’s agrifood system emits about 33% of global greenhouse emissions (GHEs) and is projected to keep growing.
- Replacing a quarter of India’s 8.8 million diesel irrigation pumps with solar pumps would cut agrifood emissions by 11.5 million tonnes per year.
- This is more than double the five million tonnes of global emissions that electric vehicles and solar panels prevented in 2020.
- In India, 60% of agrifood system emissions originate from the farm gate, with enteric fermentation making up the largest share.
- The emission intensity of India’s rice production is among the lowest in the world.
- The adoption of renewable energy in the agrifood system in India can drastically cut the sector’s emissions.
- 80% of the mitigation potential for agriculture in India could be achieved by adopting cost-saving measures alone.
- Emissions from the livestock sector are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions with methane being a major gas emitted from activities like enteric fermentation in ruminants such as cattle and sheep.
- Livestock farming is responsible for about 14.5% of all human-derived greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing these emissions is crucial to limit the rise in global temperatures and combat climate change.
- The top ten agrifood system emitters are China, Brazil, India, United States, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russian Federation, Canada, Pakistan and Argentina.
Solutions:
- High-income countries: They can support low- and middle-income countries so they can adopt low-emission farming methods and technologies.
- These can also shift subsidies away from high-emitting food sources.
- For example, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, aims to assist developing countries in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.
- Middle-income countries: They can curb up to three-quarters of global agrifood emissions through greener practices.
- For example, reducing emissions from livestock and rice, investing in healthy soils, and cutting food loss and waste and using land more efficiently.
- Low-income countries: They can avoid the mistakes made by richer countries and seize climate-smart opportunities for greener and more competitive economies.
- Preserving and restoring forests would promote sustainable economic development in low-income countries.
- The Israel model of agriculture involves innovative farming techniques like drip irrigation, micro irrigation, and the use of smart technologies to optimise water usage and increase crop yields.
- By adopting Israeli agricultural practices, regions like Kalaburagi district in India and even individual farmers in places like Alappuzha are aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability in their farming practices.
Investing in these initiatives would yield over $4 trillion in benefits, encompassing enhancements in human health, food and nutrition security, the creation of higher-quality jobs, and increased profits for farmers, as well as greater carbon sequestration in forests and soils.