Agriculture accounts for 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The agriculture and land-use sector is second only to electricity/heat at 25%, but ahead of industry which is at 21%. The sector, which includes food production and forest clearing for agricultural use, emits more than the entire transport sector, including cars and planes, which totals 15% of global emissions.
The sector faces a triple challenge: it will need to increase production to feed 9.0+ billion people by 2050, while increasing the health and nutritional value of its products. The nutritional value will suffer due to the rise of CO2, making things more difficult. The farmers will also have to cut its carbon footprint by two-thirds if it is remained in line with the 2-degrees global warming scenario.
There is no easy solution. It will require massive productivity gains, as well as global shifts in diet, reductions in food waste (which is only partially a farmer’s responsibility.) New technologies will be needed to optimize production while reducing emissions. Part of the solution could come from regenerative farming-practices which helps soil absorb carbon from the air-may also play a roll, as well as alternative proteins, like plant-based “meat”.
It won’t do to try to ignore the issue. In doing so, farmers will lose control of the narrative and allow the government to dictate policy. But it won’t be just a farmer based solution. The answer must come from the entire supply chain. All of this is going to coming at a time when farm income continues under pressure due to the trade war and part of that war is leading US exporters to have more conflict with their trading partners. Not an easy environment.