Towards low-carbon agriculture: challenges and opportunities

The Carbon Footprint of the agricultural sector in France

According to the French General Commission for Sustainable Development, agriculture accounts for a significant percentage of national greenhouse gas emissions in France.

In 2019, this sector contributed 19% of total national emissions, equivalent to around 85 MtCO2 eq, making it the country's second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

But why does agriculture pollute so much?

The challenges facing agriculture

Agriculture is a fundamental sector, playing an essential role in food production, economic development and ecological balance. However, it also faces many challenges.

🌏Understand the major sources of GHG emissions and their impact on the climate

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture play a critical role in climate change. Among the main sources of GHGs in this sector are methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

🤔 How is methane (CH4) produced?

Methane is mainly produced in agriculture by livestock activities, in particular by ruminants such as cows, sheep and goats. These animals have complex digestive systems, where enteric fermentation in their stomachs generates methane, which is then emitted naturally when they breathe or belch. Rural waste management activities, such as the anaerobic fermentation of animal manure and crop residues, are also sources of methane.

What does this mean for us?

❌ Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, capable of trapping up to 25 times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period. In fact, although methane has a shorter atmospheric lifetime than CO2, it makes a significant contribution to short-term global warming.

🤔 How is nitrous oxide (N2O) produced?

Nitrous oxide is mainly emitted by the use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture. When nitrogen fertilizers are applied to soils, some of them undergo microbial processes that release nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.

What does this mean for us?

❌ Nitrous oxide is a particularly potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential around 300 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2). Despite its low concentration in the atmosphere compared with CO2 or methane, it exerts a significant influence on long-term global warming. Its presence in the atmosphere is therefore a major concern in efforts to limit global warming, and requires sustained attention in emission reduction strategies.

The management of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture is therefore of vital importance in reducing the carbon impact of this sector of activity and mitigating the repercussions of climate change.

🪓 Deforestation and land-use change

Deforestation and land-use change are major factors contributing to the high carbon impact of agriculture. These activities have a significant impact on the atmosphere, and are often linked to theexpansion of rural land to meet growing demand for food and raw materials.

Deforestation is the felling or removal of trees from a forest, usually to free up land for rural, mining or construction activities. It is often carried out to meet the growing demand for arable land, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and the release of large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) stored in trees and forest soil. When trees are cut or burned, the CO2 they have stored is released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Land-use change involves the transformation of natural lands, such as forests, savannahs or peatlands, into agricultural or urban land. This conversion has a significant impact on carbon emissions, as it releases CO2 stored in biomass and soil, while reducing the carbon absorption capacity of natural ecosystems.

🧪 Intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides

The intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is another major facet of the sector's high carbon impact. Although these chemicals have helped to boost rural yields considerably in recent decades, they also have significant ecological and climatic consequences.

🌾 Intensive use of fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers are widely used to improve soil fertility and increase plantation yields. However, excessive fertilizer use often leads to nitrate leakage into soils and waterways, resulting in water pollution and dead zones in aquatic ecosystems. What's more, when nitrogen fertilizers decompose, some of the nitrogen is converted into N2O.

🌾 Intensive use of pesticides: pesticides are used to control pests and diseases in plantations. However, their excessive use can have negative effects on biodiversity, leading to the death of beneficial insects and other non-target organisms. In particular, certain persistent pesticides can accumulate and contaminate soils and waterways.

What does this mean for us?

The intensive use of fertilizers in agriculture is responsible for a significant proportion of N2O emissions. The production, transport and use of fertilizers and pesticides also generate additional CO2 emissions, contributing to agriculture's overall carbon footprint.

Opportunities for low-carbon agriculture

There are many opportunities to make agriculture more sustainable and reduce its carbon impact. A close look at the link between agriculture and land reveals that by adopting sustainable farming practices, we can promote carbon sequestration in soils, contributing to a more balanced carbon balance. Here are some key measures to achieve this:

🌿 Sustainable agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is an agricultural model that aims to meet today's production needs for agribusiness, while preserving natural resources, protecting biodiversity and ensuring long-term economic viability. This approach integrates practices that respect the environment, animal welfare and society, while promoting resilience in the face of global warming.

Here are its key principles:

💧Conservation of soil and water resources: emphasizes the preservation of soil health and efficient water management. It favors practices such as crop rotation, ground cover, agroecological pest management and rational irrigation to reduce soil erosion and minimize water consumption.

🚜 Responsible use of resources: this includes thrifty management of rural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and water, avoiding excesses that can have negative consequences for biodiversity and health.

🥬 Biodiversity and agroecology: encourages biodiversity by promoting the coexistence of a variety of plantations, planting hedgerows, creating habitats for wildlife and using agroecological methods to boost the resilience of agricultural ecosystems.

❤️Bien Animal welfare: paying particular attention to the well-being of farm animals, by encouraging respectful farming methods and reducing the use of antibiotics.

🤝Local community involvement: involves local communities in decision-making and promotes a participatory approach to meet the specific needs of each region.

The advantages of this practice:

✅ Reduced ecological impact, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of biodiversity and protection of water resources,

✅ Improving resilience to climate change,

✅ Promoting soil health and food quality,

✅ Contribution to rural development and the preservation of traditional cultures,

✅ Strengthening links between farmers, consumers and local players.

Sustainable agriculture represents an essential means of meeting today's challenges in terms of food security and ecological sustainability. By adopting ecological practices and holistic approaches, this practice offers solutions for preserving our planet while continuing to feed the world's population in a responsible and balanced way.

🌲 Agroforestry

Agroforestry is an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture thatintegrates the cultivation of trees on rural farms. This practice harmoniously combines agriculture and forestry to maximize ecological, economic and social benefits. It offers a promising solution for reducing the sector's carbon footprint, while improving the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change.

Key principles of agroforestry :

🌳 Combining crops and trees: agroforestry involves planting trees on rural land or integrating crops between rows of trees. This combines the benefits of agricultural production with those of forestry, creating a diverse and balanced ecosystem.

🌳 Carbon sequestration: trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, which contributes to carbon sequestration in the soil and tree biomass. By increasing the presence of trees on farmland, agroforestry can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

🌳 Improved soil fertility: leaves and tree residues that fall to the ground help enrich soil nutrients, improving soil fertility and quality for plantations.

🌳 Protection against erosion: trees act as natural barriers against soil erosion caused by wind and rain, reducing soil degradation.

🌳 Biodiversity and wildlife habitats: agroforestry promotes biodiversity by creating habitats for wildlife, helping to preserve biological diversity.

🌳Wood resources and additional income: trees planted in agroforestry can be used for wood production, providing an additional source of income for farmers.

Agroforestry offers a holistic approach to transforming agriculture into a sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially positive activity. By integrating tree planting into rural practices, farmers can not only contribute to the fight against climate change by sequestering carbon, but also improve the productivity and resilience of their farms. This practice thus offers a promising future for agriculture that is more resilient to ecological challenges.

⚡ Renewable energies

Integrating renewable energies into agriculture is an essential approach to reducing the carbon impact of the farming industry. Renewable energies can replace fossil energy sources, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while offering economic and ecological benefits for farmers.

Main sources of renewable energy for agricultural activities :

🔆Solar energy: photovoltaic solar panels can be installed on the roofs of farm buildings or on unused land to capture solar energy and transform it into electricity. This electricity can be used to power rural equipment, irrigation systems, ventilation and cooling systems, as well as to supply electricity to the farm.

🌬️Énergie wind: wind turbines can be used to generate electricity from the force of the wind. Small or large-scale wind turbines can be installed on farms to meet the farm's energy needs and, in some cases, even sell surplus electricity to the grid.

💩Biomass: agricultural biomass, such as crop residues, agricultural waste and animal dung, can be transformed into biogas through the process of methanization. Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat and even fuel, providing a clean, renewable energy source for rural farms.

The benefits of renewable energies in farming :

✅ Lower energy costs: renewable energies can reduce electricity and fuel bills for farmers, which can improve their profitability.

✅ Energy autonomy: by producing their own energy, farmers can become more energy self-sufficient and reduce their dependence on external energy suppliers.

✅Valorization of rural waste: renewable energies, such as methanization, make it possible to valorize agricultural waste and plantation residues, reducing their ecological impact while producing energy.

✅ Positive image and environmental responsibility: adopting renewable energies can reinforce the farm's positive image and demonstrate the agricultural sector's commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility.

By integrating renewable energies into their operations, farmers can make a significant contribution to the transition to low-carbon agriculture and play an active role in the fight against global warming. This transition to clean energy sources offers both ecological and economic benefits, helping to build a sustainable future for farming activities.

How can we promote more sustainable agriculture?

📉 National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC)

The National Low-Carbon Strategy is a crucial roadmap for France in its quest to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For the agricultural sector, the SNBC sets ambitious targets for reducing GHG emissions compared with 2015:

👉 By 2030: 19% reduction in GHG emissions

👉 By 2050: 46% reduction in GHG emissions

France plans to achieve these ambitious targets through 3 key actions:

✅ Develop agroecology, agroforestry and precision agriculture, in particular to reduce surplus nitrogen fertilizers as much as possible.

✅ Developing the bioeconomy to supply the French economy with energy and materials that emit less GHG.

✅ Changing consumer practices (better quality or organic products, taking into account nutritional recommendations) and reducing food waste.

👩‍🏫 Education and awareness-raising

Education and awareness-raising play a fundamental role in the transition to low-carbon agriculture and the promotion of sustainable farming activities. They help to inform and raise awareness among key players in the field, including farmers, consumers, political decision-makers and other stakeholders, of the ecological and climatic challenges linked to this area, as well as the possible solutions for dealing with them.

Here are a few strategies for educating and raising awareness of the challenges of sustainable agriculture:

✅ Setting up education and training programs for farmers on sustainable rural practices and green technologies.

✅ Organization of consumer awareness campaigns to inform consumers about the ecological consequences of their consumption practices.

✅Collaboration with schools and universities to integrate modules on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity protection into curricula.

✅Establishing partnerships between governmental organizations, environmental NGOs and agricultural industry players to promote education and awareness on a large scale.

✅ Use of media and digital platforms to disseminate information on sustainable agriculture and environmentally-friendly initiatives.

By stepping up education and awareness-raising, we can mobilize the players in the field to act in favor of more sustainable agriculture, and thus contribute to preserving our planet for future generations.