Farming is in great place to be part of the climate solution
ANDREW CRITCHLOW looks at practices that need to be modified by farmers to lead the way on zero carbon targets
THE Conference of Parties organised via the United Nations Climate Change Convention brings together 190 countries each year to negotiate new climate change treaties and report on the progress of past ones. Why COP26? Because this is the 26th conference.
Farming is uniquely placed to be part of the solution, not only by reducing its emissions but also as a carbon sink. Farmers can protect and enhance the carbon reserves already in our soils and vegetation.
Some practices will need to be modified such as more min-till and less inversion of soil to reduce the release of carbon. Allowing hedgerows to expand and planting the right trees in the right places will increase carbon storage. As will increasing soil organic matter and reducing compaction by good soil management and deeper rooting varieties of herbage and grass leys. As well as nature-based solutions, we can capture more carbon by growing the raw materials for: bioenergy, such as miscanthus and willow; and biobased building materials such as hemp.
Although the growing of biomass captures carbon from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, burning the fuel releases CO2.
The big prize is capturing the released greenhouse gas by developing the technology to deliver BECCS – Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage.
Pioneering work at Drax power station is aiming to deliver the largest carbon capture power project in the world. The NFU has its Net Zero by 2040 ambition for English and Welsh agriculture. It’s only achievable if, as well as the above measures, there is improved resource-use efficiency across all farm sectors coupled with the use of new techniques. These measures
could include:
● Reduced use of fertilizers and improved soil management to reduce the quantity of CO2 released in the manufacture of fertilizer and the emissions of nitrous oxides from soils.
● Feed additives to reduce methane emissions from ruminant livestock.
● Improved animal health to increase productivity will help reduce emissions.
● Precision farming to reduce inputs and energy usage.
● Green energy such as solar, wind and anaerobic digestion.
In a report by the NFU, farmers such as Jessica Langton, from near Langley Mill, showcase how they are adapting their businesses to reduce agricultural emissions, capture and store more carbon on farmland and produce more renewable energy, all while providing climate-friendly, nutritious and affordable food for people at home and abroad.
We know there is more to do but we have to make sure we do not reduce our capacity to feed UK consumers. Our self-sufficiency of food we can produce has dropped from around 80% in the 1980s to nearly 60% today.
We must not off-shore our food production and neither our emissions by poor trade deals or poor government policies. To be part of the solution will require support from government, industry and other key groups.
Together we can build on our reputation as world leaders in climate-friendly food production.