Agriculture Should Contribute To Cutting Carbon Emissions - FAO

Farming practices which keep soil disturbance to a minimum could help reduce agriculture’s contribution to carbon emissions, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said Tuesday. In a policy brief prepared for the Copenhagen climate summit later this month, the FAO said that agriculture is responsible for around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions and could play a major role in reducing emissions.

“Certain farming practices, including those used by organic and conservation agriculture, capture carbon and store it in soils,” said the FAO.

Limiting the tillage of soil, which causes the release of greenhouse gases, utilizing residues for composting or mulching, using perennial crops and the efficient use of fertilizer could all contribute to reducing emissions, the FAO said.

“We hope the UN summit in Copenhagen will send a clear signal that agriculture in developing countries should play a vital role in responding to this global challenge,” said FAO Assistant Director-General, Alexander Mueller.

CME Group