Introduction on Agriculture Technologies for Mitigation to climate change Climate Change and Watershed Program
Climate Change (IPCC 2013)
Negative impacts of climate change on crop and terrestrial food production have been more common than positive impacts. Food production systems and food security. Without adaptation local temperature increases of 1.0C (global average also 1.0C) above pre-‐industrial are projected to negatively impact yields for major crops (wheat rice and maize) in tropical and temperature regions (IPCC AR5 2013 – 2014 WG2 SPM).
IPCC fifth assessment report climate change 2013 • It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-‐20th century • Warming of climate change is unequivocal and will continue beyond 2100 under all RCP scenarios (except RCP2.6.)
• Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth´s surface than any preceding decade since 1850 • The amounts of snow and ice have diminished
IPCC AR5 (2013)
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The CO2 concentrations of GHGs have increased by 40% since preindustrial times from fossil fuel emissions and net land use change emissions It is very likely that the length, frequency, and/ or intensity of warm spells or heat waves will increase over most land areas
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It is likely that the frequency of heavy precipitation or the proportion of total rainfall from heavy falls will increase over many areas of the globe
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Global mean sea level will further decrease The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic CO2 causing ocean acidification
IPCC AR5 (2013)
Impacts of climate change: Positive impacts Higher CO2 levels can increase yields (p.e. C3 crops such as wheat, rice and soybeans, could increase by 30% or more. C4 crops such as corn, exhibit a response less than 10% increase) (Cline, 2007); horticultural crops are likely to be more sensitive to CC
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For any particular crop, the effect of increased temperature will depend on the crop's optimal temperature for growth and reproduction
Impacts of climate change: Positive impacts
• The areas suitable for cropping will expand, the length of the growing period will increase. • The costs of overwintering livestock will fall, crop yields will improve and forests may grow faster. • Increased productivity from enhanced CO2 and warmer temperatures
Potential impacts of CC on agriculture
Negative impacts More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields
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Impacts of CC on agriculture: Negative impacts
…
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…because the climate impacts is affecting crop yields
Many weeds, pests and fungi thrive under warmer temperatures, wetter climates, and increased CO2 levels. Low effectiveness of pesticides, crop diversity and increased water and heat stress www.ccafs.cgiar.org
Role of agricultural development in increasing climate change The global food system, from fertilizer manufacture to food storage and packaging, is responsible for up to one-‐third of all human-‐caused GHG emissions (Vermeulen, 2012 ) GHG emissions vary markedly across the different activities of the food chain at the global level:
Preproduction
Stage of food chain
Emissions (MtCO2e)
Year of estimate
Fertilizer manufacture
282–575
2007
Bellarby et al. 2008
60
2005
Steinfeld et al. 2006
3-‐140
2007
Bellarby et al. 2008
Direct emissions from agriculture
5120-‐6116
2005
Smith et al. 2007
Indirect emissions from agriculture
2198-‐6567
2008
van der Werf et al. 2009 Blaser et al. 2007
Primary and secondary processing
192
2007
Chen et al. 2010
Storage, packaging and transport
396
2007
Chen et al. 2010
Refrigeration
490
2004
James, S & James, C . 2010
Retail activities
224
2007
Chen et al. 2010
Catering & domestic food management
160
2007
Chen et al. 2010
Waste disposal
72
2007
Chen et al. 2010
Energy use in animal feed production Pesticide production
Production
Postproduction
References
IPCC Technical Paper I
Role of agricultural development in increasing climate change
Greenpeace (2008)
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World GHG emissions by sector
IPCC (2000)
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GHG emissions percent on agriculture sectors
Source: McKinsey Climate Change Special Initiative, 2007 (Global GHG Abatement Cost Curve v2.1)
Technologies for mitigating agricultural emissions
Enhancing soil carbon sequestration
Conservation agricultural practices (reduced slash and burn agriculture and pastureland conversion and reduced intensive agriculture conversion), promote soil carbon sequestration by increasing the time and amount of crop residues left on the soil surface; and reducing soil disturbance, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions. In addition, the degraded forest reforestation and pastureland afforestation could be more effective with the inclusion of trees in their farming system.
Conservation agricultural practices
Tillage and residue management: establishing crops in the previous crop´s residues, wich are purposely left on the soil surface. It shields the soil from rain and wind and also adds organic matter, reduce soil compaction, and improves soil tilth (NSAC, 2009)
Technologies for mitigating agricultural emissions Polyculture: Technology of growing multiple crops in the same space, the crops are less susceptible to disease than monoculture crops, and also increase local biodiversity. Organic and degraded soils restoration: Returning soils to their original state after disturbance, stopping application of chemicals, using bacteria to break down pollutants, and applying cover crops. Seeds and breeds: Maintenance of genetic resources of plant varieties and animal breeds that are necessary for the survival of agricultural systems for current and future generations. Manure composting: Aerobical decomposition of organic m a t t e r b y m i c r o o r g a n i s m s W i t h h i g h e n o u g h temperatures, pathogens and weeds have been killed. Integrated pest management: Effective and environmentally approach to pest management to manage pest damage with the least possible hazard to people and the environment (NSAC, 2009)
Technologies for mitigating agricultural emissions
Reducing fuel consumption • Harvesting forage by livestock grazing rather then mechanically (waste recycling) • Designing grain cropping systems to allow full drying of crops in the field prior to harvest • Reducing the amount of water pumped for irrigation • Employing cropland nutrient management strategies to continually adjust fertilizer application rates for efficient, sustainable production (rice management) • Using legume-‐based rotations or organic agricultural systems to reduce N fertilizer applications (Grassland management).
Technologies for mitigating agricultural emissions Improving nitrogen-‐use efficiency (NUE) • • •
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Soil nitrate tests prior to N fertilizer applications can provide land managers with a timely understanding of actual crop need Precisely timing fertilizer application to match the period of time when plants need nutrients The conversion of molecular nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) through biological fixation by bacteria is incorporated into the plant biomass, it can become part of the soil reservoir and taken up again by plant roots as nitrate (NO2) GIS can be used in combination with variable-‐rate technology, crop monitoring, and other technologies to apply N fertilizers based on crop need Leguminous green manures can convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere to plant-‐available N for crop use Riparian forest can intercept N, using it for biomass production and wildlife habitat, as well as keeping it from entering aquatic systems and transforming into N2O.
Technologies for mitigating agricultural emissions
Increasing ruminant digestion efficiency • Adjusting the portions of animal feed to decrease digestion time • Using edible oils or other feed additives to reduce metabolic activity of rumen bacteria that produce CH4 • Capturing CH4 emissions from livestock waste using covered lagoons and converting to electricity • Applying manure to the soil as a nutrient source rather than storing it as waste. • Improving pasture quality, rotational grazing to increase animal productivity
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Study case (VIDEO)
Barriers to mitigation technologies • Significant technical progress has been made in the last five years in áreas such as underground CO2 storage, reducing fuel consumption, restoration of degraded soils, integrated pest management, seeds and breeds, etc. •
B a r r i e r s a d d t o t h e c o s t o f implementation and reduce the realizable potential.
• Bariers can be technical, economic, political, cultural, social, behavioral and institutional. • The opportunities for mitigation differ by region
Main barriers for Agriculture Mitigation • Lack of data, information, knowledge, awareness • High transaction costs and trade barriers • Poor access to financing, specially for smallholders • Risk aversion in financial institutions • Insufficient human and institutional capabilities • Poor understanding of local needs • Poor practices such as slash and burn agriculture and mismanagement of forest resources • Lack of enabling policies initiatives, institutional mechanism, information and opportunities • Lack of coordination among different groups • Barriers to the development and transfer of new technologies
Opportunities for overcoming agricultural barriers a) Potential mitigation opportunities and types of barriers vary by region, sector and over time. b) Opportunities for any given country might be found in the removal of any combination of barriers. c) Agriculture and forestry sector options are relatively low cost, which helps to reduce barriers. d) Farm-‐level Adoption Constraints, participatory arrangements that fully engage all the involved actors may help to overcome many barriers. e) The expansion of credit and savings schemes, and price support, to assist rural people.
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Opportunities for overcoming agricultural barriers f) The improvement of food security and disaster early warning systems. g) The development of institutional linkage between countries with high standards in certain technologies. h) The rationalization of input and output prices of agricultural commodities which would lead to more efficient use of input resources.
Instruments for national mitigation planning • NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) • LEDS (low-‐emission development strategies) • CTCN (Climate Technology Center Network)
NAMA Nationally Appropiate Mitigation Actions
• The NAMAs are voluntary mi.ga.on proposals submi6ed by non-‐Annex I country to the CMNUCC • Involve an measurable, reportable and verifiable effort (MRV) (Include specific ac.ons, no emission targets reduc2on) • The NAMAs can be supported and enabled by Annex I countries through technology transfer, financing and assistance in na.onal capaci.es building
What are the objec,ves of NAMAs?
• Recognize mi2ga2on efforts in developing countries • Create a pla