Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
22/01/2010 08:54:04
Agricultural innovation is key to climate change action
The Crop Protection Association has welcomed a new report1 from WWF-UK and the Food Climate Research Network as an important step forward in questioning the widely held belief that organic production alone holds the key to combating climate change in the agriculture and food production sector.
The report How Low Can We Go? examines the food chain’s contribution to current greenhouse gas emissions and identifies the scope for reduction over the next 40 years.
Importantly, the report suggests that a combination of production and consumption measures will be required, stressing that ’there is little scope for emission reductions through the exclusion of production technologies – for example through the widespread adoption of organic farming.’
As the first study of its kind to include the contribution of land use change overseas in producing food for the UK, the report concludes that food accounts for 30% of the UK’s carbon footprint, significantly higher than previous estimates of around 20%.
To play its part in keeping average global temperature rises below 2°C, the report warns that food chain emissions need to be cut by at least 70% by 2050. This is achievable, say the report’s authors, but will require major changes in food production technology and consumption patterns.
All sectors of the UK food chain give rise to emissions, and the report highlights three key areas for climate change action:
- decarbonising the energy used in the food chain – through changes to fertiliser manufacture, farming operations, food processing and distribution which are currently dependent on fossil fuels;
- making the industry more efficient, from field to fork – including use of technology to increase crop yields and improve livestock feed conversion;
- changing our eating habits – to reduce consumption of meat and dairy products.
"This report is a significant and thought-provoking contribution to the climate change debate, and the first from a respected environmental NGO to acknowledge that a wholesale switch to organic farming systems is certainly not the most effective way to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions," said Dominic Dyer, CPA chief executive.
Last year a report by Cranfield University2 found that the yield benefit of modern crop protection products offered net CO2 savings, and that pesticides were a relatively minor contributor to overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Cranfield report was commissioned by CPA to review published research into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture and use of pesticides. It concluded that the yield increases attributed to pesticide use allow a tenfold saving in CO2 equivalent per hectare relative to the CO2 emitted as a consequence of producing pesticides.
"We accept the report’s conclusion that achieving significant reductions in emissions will involve radical structural change throughout the supply chain, from energy use through to the way we produce and consume food.
"It may be counter-intuitive for many, but there is firm evidence that the adoption of more intensive farming practices, including the responsible use of modern crop protection products, offers the most effective route to mitigate and cope with the effects of climate change, while at the same time increasing production in line with global food needs," concluded Mr Dyer.
The report How Low Can We Go? examines the food chain’s contribution to current greenhouse gas emissions and identifies the scope for reduction over the next 40 years.
Importantly, the report suggests that a combination of production and consumption measures will be required, stressing that ’there is little scope for emission reductions through the exclusion of production technologies – for example through the widespread adoption of organic farming.’
As the first study of its kind to include the contribution of land use change overseas in producing food for the UK, the report concludes that food accounts for 30% of the UK’s carbon footprint, significantly higher than previous estimates of around 20%.
To play its part in keeping average global temperature rises below 2°C, the report warns that food chain emissions need to be cut by at least 70% by 2050. This is achievable, say the report’s authors, but will require major changes in food production technology and consumption patterns.
All sectors of the UK food chain give rise to emissions, and the report highlights three key areas for climate change action:
- decarbonising the energy used in the food chain – through changes to fertiliser manufacture, farming operations, food processing and distribution which are currently dependent on fossil fuels;
- making the industry more efficient, from field to fork – including use of technology to increase crop yields and improve livestock feed conversion;
- changing our eating habits – to reduce consumption of meat and dairy products.
"This report is a significant and thought-provoking contribution to the climate change debate, and the first from a respected environmental NGO to acknowledge that a wholesale switch to organic farming systems is certainly not the most effective way to reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions," said Dominic Dyer, CPA chief executive.
Last year a report by Cranfield University2 found that the yield benefit of modern crop protection products offered net CO2 savings, and that pesticides were a relatively minor contributor to overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Cranfield report was commissioned by CPA to review published research into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture and use of pesticides. It concluded that the yield increases attributed to pesticide use allow a tenfold saving in CO2 equivalent per hectare relative to the CO2 emitted as a consequence of producing pesticides.
"We accept the report’s conclusion that achieving significant reductions in emissions will involve radical structural change throughout the supply chain, from energy use through to the way we produce and consume food.
"It may be counter-intuitive for many, but there is firm evidence that the adoption of more intensive farming practices, including the responsible use of modern crop protection products, offers the most effective route to mitigate and cope with the effects of climate change, while at the same time increasing production in line with global food needs," concluded Mr Dyer.
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
Fendt 936 Vario - Salisbury(GBP 117000)
Case - JX60 TRACTOR - NEWMARKET(GBP 17500)
Used New Holland TS 115 Turbo 4wd - YORK
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Case MX 120 - Burwell
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
New Holland T5060 Deluxe - Tiverton(GBP 26750)
Related News
Key role for farmers on climate change - 30 Nov 2006Leading scientists and policy makers yesterday agreed that farmers and land managers have a major role to play in addressing climate change. A meet...
Defra announces second phase of key Indian climate change adaptation project - 23 Jan 2007The UK is to work with India to provide a detailed assessment of potential impacts of climate change in India and to undertake a pilot regional projec...
Farming can play a key role in UK climate change fight - 14 Mar 2007The NFU has welcomed the Government's commitment to tackling climate change and said farmers were in a prime position to help it achieve its targe...
Yield disease control key under climate change - 21 Jun 2010Oilseed rape disease losses are predicted to increase by a further £50M by 2050, under high CO2 emission scenarios. However, such losses, on untreate...
Farmers show increased on-farm action to combat climate change - 02 Jan 2008Farming Futures - a communications collaboration between the NFU, CLA, ARF, AIC, Forum for the Future and Defra, has been monitoring farmer's atti...
Woodland Wales takes action over climate change - 08 Jul 2010Llais y Goedwig, the community woodland network in Wales, has heeded the warnings about climate change and is taking action, thanks to a grant from En...
New model predicts impact of new agricultural techniques and climate change on farmland ecosystems - 09 Jun 2009A consortium of scientists have presented a new way of modelling ecosystems that can predict the impact on farmland ecology of climate change, other e...
Innovation is key for the food service sector - 03 Apr 2012Producers can unlock the potential of supplying the food service sector if they find ways to innovate and meet customers’ needs. According t...
15 Agricultural innovations protecting the environment - 20 Apr 2012For the last 40 years, Earth Day has been celebrated around the world to call attention to some of our most pressing environmental and social problems...
New Holland to sponsor Climate Action campaign - 21 Jul 2011New Holland Agriculture has announced it will be a Gold Sponsor of the Climate Action Networking Reception, hosted by Climate Action in partnership wi...
