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Developed in conjunction with CSIRO

Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder

Agricultural emissions

Reducing emissions in agriculture

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture is a core element of farm sustainability.

There are three pathways for farming enterprises to contribute to reducing emissions which may also unlock on farm benefits.

  • Emissions intensity: reducing the emissions produced per kg of finished product (CO2-e/ kg produce) supports agriculture to compete in discerning markets.
  • Absolute emissions: reducing the net emissions from an industry or enterprise ensures that agriculture contributes to national emissions reduction goals.
  • Carbon sequestration: storing carbon in vegetation or soils can draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow climate change and can contribute to co-benefits including improved ecosystem functions, production resilience, and amenity on farm.

It is important to understand your emissions sources and to target emissions reduction activities suited to your enterprise.

On-farm GHG emission sources

Understanding emissions sources is the first step to take when targeting activities, setting achievable targets, and monitoring reductions to bring benefits to your enterprise.

The schematic below provides a simple summary of on-farm GHG sources and sinks, including methane (CH4) from livestock, nitrous oxide (N2O) from fertiliser, and carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel use.

Changes in plant and soil carbon stocks can act as emissions sources (loss of carbon), or as sinks to mitigate emissions through ‘permanent’ sequestration (storage of carbon).

In the context of carbon markets, carbon sequestration must be retained in plant or soil sinks for >25 years, and therefore short-lived carbon sinks (e.g. annual crop harvests, food products) are not accounted for.

 

Methane₂Nitrous Oxide NOCarbon DioxideReleased by:• Burning fossil fuels• Biomass burning• Loss of soil carbon• Plant decay• Insect and microbial activityStored in:• Plant biomass• Soil carbon stocksEligible Activity:•Solar energy and storage•Electrification of equipment•Permanent plantingGenerated from:• Nitrogen fertilisers• Waterlogged soil conditions• Urine and dung• Burning fossil fuels• Biomass burningEligible Activity:•Variable rate fertiliser•Variable rate lime•Nitrification inhibitorsEligible Activity:•Pasture rejuvenation•Methane inhibitorsGenerated from:• Livestock digesting plants• Waste treatment• Flooded soils• Biomass burning

 

 

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