Climate change
Agriculture contributes 14% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions – around the same level contributed by industry and transport. Of this, over 75% is contributed by the combination of land conversion to agriculture, nitrous oxide release from soils/manures, and methane from enteric fermentation. This is a massive contribution to global climate change.
Negative impacts of energy consumption can be reduced through the reduction of energy use and the adoption of alternative and renewable energy.
Reducing the use of nitrogen fertilisers (and decreasing the mechanical power requirements per hectare) can reduce the mechanical power requirements per hectare, greatly reducing the amounts of energy required.
In addition, by undertaking zero tillage systems, mixed rotations incorporating cover crops and green manures, and applying composts and manures, the levels of organic matter in the soil which accumulates and stores carbon can be increased. Other agricultural activities, including cultivating crops for use as bio-energy and adopting agro-forestry, can also increase the farms carbon storage capabilities above ground.
In practice
Reducing energy use and offsetting CO2 –
The Lakes Free Range Egg Farm, UK
At the Lakes Free Range Eggs Company, natural ventilation is used in the farm buildings, negating the requirement to use electricity to run fans. The farm and its suppliers have planted over 200 acres of trees and through work with suppliers’ farms a further 6000 acres are part of a structured biodiversity plan. This contributes towards offsetting CO2 emissions in the area.
Go to case study »Eggs – The Lakes Free Range Egg Farm, UK