Agriculture has a major role to play in curbing greenhouse gas emissions and action is needed to put smallholders and food systems on sustainable paths, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It posits that success in transforming food and agriculture systems will largely depend on supporting smallholders in adapting to climate change.
The report highlights the adoption of ‘climate-smart’ practices, such as the use of nitrogen-efficient and heat-tolerant crop varieties, zero-tillage and integrated soil fertility management to boost productivity and farmers’ incomes. It estimates that widespread adoption of nitrogen-efficient practices alone would reduce the number of people at risk of undernourishment by more than 100 million.
The report also identifies avenues to lower emission intensity from agriculture. Water-conserving alternatives to the flooding of rice paddies, for example, can slash methane emissions by 45 percent, while emissions from the livestock sector can be reduced by up to 41 percent through the adoption of more efficient practices.
FAO’s road map also identifies policies and financing opportunities for the sustainable intensification of agriculture.