Efficient farming = low-carbon farming: The link between profitability and environmental sustainability at farm level Dr Rogier Schulte, Pat Murphy, Dr Thia Hennessy, Padraig Brennan Leader Translational Research on Sustainable Food Production
Food Security & Sustainability Global Soil Challenges Food Security 2050: Population 9bn Dietary shift Food demand up 100% by 2050? Land grabbing? Sustainability: GHG emissions / C-sequestration Water footprint / sustainability Biodiversity
Irish as a microcosm Agricultural policy framework Food Harvest 2020 Environmental policies GHG policy framework Nitrates WFD National Biodiversity Plan Cross Compliance + Greening Sewage Sludge + Pesticides Directives New Land Use Directive proposed Etc, etc
This presentation How can we increase food production and reduce greenhouse gases from farming?
The Irish Paradox Q: Which statement is true? In Ireland, agriculture accounts for a much larger share of emissions than in other countries. Irish agriculture has one of the lowest carbon-footprints, internationally. ANSWER: both statements are true - Little heavy industry - Small population compared to national herd - Agriculture = important to economy - Predominantly ruminant farming = Reflection of soils & climate
The Irish Paradox TRUE OR FALSE? 1. Agriculture accounts for a much larger share of Irish emissions (31%) than in other countries (9%). 2. Irish agriculture has one of the lowest carbon-footprints, internationally. Source: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/full_text_en.pdf
Policies Global: 2 nd Kyoto-commitment period to 2020. No successor to Kyoto yet. Agriculture currently discussed under Advanced Durban Platform. To be agreed by 2015. EU: unilaterally committed to 20% reduction by 2020 (compared to 2005) or 30% if global agreement can be reached National: - 2011: proposed Climate Change Response Bill Headline figure: -20% for total non-ets sector (incl. Ag)
Policies 2011 Climate Policy submission: Reducing emissions by 20% is really, really difficult Irish agriculture = highly C-efficient Methane emissions: solutions are limited? Risk of Carbon-Leakage Source: Lanigan et al., 2008 www.teagasc.ie/publications/2008/20081110/reps2008_paper02.asp Displacement of 50% of Irish beef production could increase global GHG emissions by 2 5 Mt CO 2 eq per annum
Policy outcomes New Government: Minister of Environment asks the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) for framework for new GHG policy NESC liaises with all sectors including agriculture: If Agriculture can t reduce emissions by 20-30%, what can be achieved? Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) for 2020
Teagasc GHG programme No room for complacency 2. Ranking of measures - Teagasc research programme on Greenhouse gases - 2.5m per annum, 6 Research Centres 1. Order of magnitude 3. Categorisation of measures Teagasc Working Group on GHG emissions Cost-effective - Brings together all expertise from research and advisory - Developing coherent approach towards better GHG efficiencies - Fed into SEAI (McKinsey) report and government strategy - Identifying measures that are cost-effective Cost-prohibitive Cost-neutral Double dividend Source: Motherway & Walker, 2009 www.seai.ie/publications/low_carbon_opportunity_study
Approach Starting Point: Food Harvest 2020 GHG emissions projected to increase by 5-10% What are the options to reduce GHG emissions while meeting FH 2020? Abatement potential = -the total potential abatement -that can be realistically achieved -following full implementation -wherever biophysically possible. 1998 2010 2020
Results: LCA
Results: IPCC
Efficiency = low carbon = profit http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2013/3042/sustainabilityreport.pdf
Efficiency = low carbon = profit
Efficiency = low carbon = profit
Efficiency = low carbon = profit
So where do we go from here?
The Carbon Navigator How can we maximise the adoption of green measures?
The Carbon Navigator Principles: Practical language: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, mitigation, emission coefficient, Grazing season length, nitrogen fertiliser rates, etc Carbon reduction = cost reduction Carbon Navigator specifies potential savings
The Carbon Navigator Principles (cont d): Each farm is unique which measures are most appropriate on my farm? Distance to target : how far have I progressed in reducing my emissions? Comparing like with like : benchmark my farm only against similar farms, on similar soils, in my region.
Distance to target Carbon - footprint Distance to target Biophysical minimum footprint
Teagasc GHG Working Group Follow the follow-up on Twitter: @RogierSchulte 2011: now 2012: 2020 2013: 2050 http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/