How Countries are Preparing for Climate Change - 4b Agriculture - How Governments are Responding and Sharing Knowledge

 

Policies, Incentives, and Engagement

Farming contributes to climate change but is also among the first sectors to feel its impact. As I write, farmers are lamenting huge stock losses in Far North Queensland due to “unprecedented" flooding. In the South it is due to bushfires. Rather than being enlisted to fight against Net Zero, progressive farmers are reducing their own impacts by measures such electrifying machinery, transport, lighting, and refrigeration, planting intermediate crops and using no-till farming to retain soil moisture and carbon. 

In this section we will look at some of the major global agriculture and climate policy initiatives and how these are transmitted to farmers and shared.  For the purposes of this post, Mitigation means broad measures to reduce the impact of Climate Change, while Adaptation refers to measures adopted to overcome its most serious consequences especially with respect to food security. In many cases the measures adopted do both and some even increase crop yields and incomes. 

International Organisations and Initiatives

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)  signed by more than 190 countries is the primary global body setting out the principles and obligations to limit climate change, including the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to keep warming to under 2°C above pre -industrial levels. 

We are now at  1.1 to 1.2^o C and are already seeing devastating results. However, many countries are making great progress on reducing their emissions.  

 

The UNFCCC's Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture  integrates agriculture into climate policy by addressing soil health, livestock, nutrient and water management, and food security.

It is complemented by the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), led by the USA and UAE with around 800 members in 55 partner countries. This organisation promotes public-private partnerships between scientists, non - profits group (NGOs) and businesses to fund practical climate-smart agricultural innovations such as land restoration and green nitrogen production. 

The Global Environment Facility (GEF), with 186 member countries, helps developing nations to tackle issues such as biodiversity loss, pollution, land degradation, and sustainable livelihoods. As far as Agriculture and Food Security goes it is particularly concerned with  pollution, soil health, forest management, ocean health, capacity building and inclusive and sustainable livelihoods. It does this by linking the private sector, civil society and indigenous communities. 

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) works on national strategies for the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Used by over 100 countries, this has three main goals - to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, build resilience against Climate Change and to reduce Greenhouse Gases where possible and all without leaving anyone behind, in accordance with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the ways it does this is by supporting farmer training and the use of measurement tools.

CGIAR is the world's largest research partnership and is active in over 80 countries. It leads agricultural R&D on climate adaptation and crop resilience across across the Middle East, Africa and much of Asia. Public -private R and D partnerships have enabled rapid scaling of technologies such as Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa and Stress Tolerant Rice for Asia. Subsidies and soft loans are helping farmers to take up new technologies. In India for example, they are helping farmers to buy new equipment for seed drilling using zero -tilling. In the case of cocoa and coffee production in Ghana, Nicaragua and Peru, it is helping to  transfer the risk of crop failure from impoverished farmers to the corporations buying the product. 

Mitigation - Reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)  

When it comes to mitigation,  there are two other important Greenhouse Gases besides CO₂ which have an impact on Climate Change. One is methane and the other is nitrogen. 

The Global Methane Pledge 

Methane is not as long - lived in the atmosphere as CO₂  but is between 28 and 80 times more powerful, depending on how long it has been in circulation. It is estimated to have contributed to around 30% of the warming which has occurred since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Methane comes from three main sources. Globally around 40% comes from Agriculture, 35% from the fossil fuel industry and around 20% comes from organic waste in landfill and waste water, though amounts and sources vary by region and crops. 

The good news is that methane is also one of easiest gases to avoid, so in the hope of slowing down  Climate Change, more than 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, promising to reduce their emissions by 30% by 2030. More than 26 countries have now submitted Action Plans. Because each country faces unique challenges they have also developed different ways of reaching their target. A quick glimpse at Canada's for example, shows the kinds of measures being taken there. 

With respect to Agriculture, Canada has already reduced its livestock herd, because farm animals accounted for 86% of its methane emissions and this has already led to a drop of around 20% since since 2005.  Despite herd reductions, returns have remained high due to to better nutrition, selective breeding and improved farm management.

It is now targeting better processing of manures which can be achieved by liquid acidification, separating liquids and solids or by anaerobic digestion.  Anaerobic digestion means covering manure pits or holding tanks and capturing the methane which can then be used as biogas for heating or powering other farm operations. 

This also allows for recovery of solids, which can be a nutrient rich addition to soils. While this is best suited to large, intensive livestock operations, increasing legumes and tannin -rich plants can reduce emissions from farm animals grazing on open pasture.  

Canada supports precision agriculture, improved feed strategies, manure storage and treatment and better management of farm operations to reduce energy needs, including green energy, biofuels and farm scale digestors. It also funds research into testing, adoption, disseminating and monitoring of various techniques and technologies. 

 A Different Strategy for Rice Growing Regions

In Cambodia rice production is a major contributor to its methane emissions because the microbes which produce methane thrive in moist rice paddies and increase under warming conditions. Other sources include methane from animal husbandry and open manure piles and pits. It also has an additional problem which contributes to crop losses, pollution and  global warming. This is ‘black carbon” which is produced when burning crop residues or carrying out slash and burn agriculture. 

As far as rice paddies go, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out, can reduce methane formation by 20 -30% and adding nitrogen -rich organic matter can reduce it further. Other reductions can be achieved through improved feed for livestock which can result in 40 -70% reduction of enteric methane in beef cattle, 38% in dairy cattle and 20 -28% in pigs. Selective breeding can reduce it by a another 20%.

Converting manures through anaerobic digestion will reduce emissions from that source, while finding alternative uses for crop residues such as biofuels should help to end open burning.  It is also expected to increase crop yields by around 15%. See more the video below or click here if you can't see the video.

While some countries reward their farmers for reducing emissions, Denmark has recently introduced a Methane Penalty -to encourages farmer to adopt methane-reducing feed additives and improved manure management even faster.  

For a longer video (10 mins about reducing Methane Emissions click here

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is another gas of international concern – Nitrous Oxide is around 273 to 300 times more potent than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas over a 100-year period. Indeed, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regards nitrogen pollution as one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Although industry and waste water plants also contribute, agriculture is the primary source. It is produced by microbial action in soils which have been treated with nitrogen fertilisers and released by exposed soils, uncovered manure piles and waste water. Although plants need nitrogen to grow, excess nitrogen not only adds to global warming, but run -off into waterways can lead to oxygen depletion which in turn can cause toxic algal blooms and fish kills. Another byproduct is ground- level ozone which occurs when nitrogen interacts with Methane. This causes damage to plants, human lungs, ecosystems and also adds to climate change because it it is also a GHG. 

Some 186 countries have now submitted 2,700 abatement policies between them, but implementation is patchy and the European Union is by far the leader when it comes to putting them into effect. Its Nitrates Directive aims to reduce fertiliser runoff and nitrogen emissions to protect water quality and ecosystems. These policies promote good agricultural practices to prevent nitrogen loss and pollution. 

Its key measures include the following:

1.     To protect waterways, areas designated as sensitive have stricter fertiliser limits and must have buffer strips

2.     To prevent release of excess nitrogen, both the amount and timing of applications is restricted – less in winter and autumn for example, while crops aren’t growing. The method of application matters too – for example injection, rather than broad application. Bio – manures or treated manure should be used where possible.

3.     Improving soil aeration and drainage, planting cover crops, using no -till planting and using crop rotation to use up excess nitrogen. Incorporating crop residues properly to reduce emissions. Using nitrification inhibitors.

4.     Proper storage and handling of manures to prevent run -off and leaks.

5.     Member states must submit action plans on how they will implement the directive’s measures, including enforcement and farmer support. They must also report nitrate levels in waterways regularly and submit progress reports every four years.

With all the new regulations, I can see why European farmers are taking to the streets, but at the same time farming will not succeed either if climate change continues unchecked and without farmers there is no food, so we are damned if we do, but even more damned if we don't. 

Low returns amid rising food costs are a global phenomenon and are at least in part because of our more erratic weather. [The war in Ukraine is also contributing to higher fertiliser and energy costs as well as pushing up the price of wheat globally, as it's one of the world's breadbaskets]. It does however, highlight the importance of working with farmers and making sure they are fully on board before insisting on major changes to practices which have served them well for generations.

Other European Initiatives

The EU is also supports - and by support we mean subsidies or funding,  setting aside 3% of agricultural land for biodiversity and aims to increase this to 7%, alongside backing organic farming and environmental measures such as diversification, protecting carbon-rich soils, experimenting with drought-resistant breeds, urban agriculture, and agroforestry to retain soil moisture. Research and training are integral to these efforts. You can read about lots of emerging research here.

The Netherlands is experimenting with saline adapted crops to counter soil salinity or from sea-level rise and flooding and is sharing it's expertise with similarly affected countries such as Bangladesh, the Middle East and North Africa. Other research is about retaining moisture in sandy soils during droughts. It has also developed tools such as heat stress monitors for livestock and crop yield simulators under varying weather conditions to help farmers adapt. Online forums connect government, water and municipal authorities with farmers, and other stakeholders to share knowledge and solutions.

Mediterranean Countries (Spain, Italy, Greece)  are adopting water conservation policies, including subsidies for drip irrigation and water reuse and addressing increasing drought risks. Spain for example, is trialling climate-smart viticulture practices that reduce water use while maintaining yields. 

Other Regions

Of necessity this will only be a brief overview to outline some of the strategies being deployed. 

 

In South American countries such Brazil and Argentina, policies primarily centre on agroforestry and mixed-species cropping to improve soil moisture retention and carbon sequestration, enhancing drought resilience and productivity. Brazil’s National Adaptation Plan supports drought-resistant crops and water-saving irrigation benefiting smallholders and using traditional foods of its indigenous people to improve livelihoods and food security.

In Africa     - particularly in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Vision 25x25 aims to help 25 million farmers adopt climate-resilient practices by 2025 through support for drought-tolerant crops, soil restoration, and water harvesting. Pilot programs have improved food security and incomes. Read more about Africa, the Middle East, India and Asia here.

Russia's plans include supporting expanded cultivation of hardy crop varieties suited to northern climates and investing in water management infrastructure to address thawing permafrost and changing precipitation patterns. Pilot projects in Siberia have demonstrated increased yields with drought-adapted crops

China’s National Agriculture Green Development Plan 2021-2025 emphasises reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture using sustainable farming practices such as reducing fertiliser use, improving livestock management to lower methane emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration through soil management and agroforestry. It is also promoting drought-resistant and heat-tolerant crop varieties, improving water management, reducing food waste and adopting precision agriculture techniques to optimise resource use and reduce vulnerability to climate extremes. Read more here 

I can't leave this section without mentioning China's 10 year efforts to green the desert. This not only provides an excellent carbon sink, but creates a sustainable livelihood for thousands of people. It also reduces wind speeds by 50% leading to less evaporation and fewer sandstorms. Lastly the Kumbuchi Desert in particular is host to China's largest solar farm which provides additional shelter for crops and animals as well as clean renewable power for thousands of people. See the ten minute video about this here  For a very short one about using crop wastes to green the deserts click here. On the subject of crop wastes, there is another important development I should mention – Biochar.

Biochar

Biochar is made by burning discarded organic matter at low temperature – not by open burning! That just  creates ash and smoke. The end product is a kind of charcoal which is then mixed with urine and added to soils. The addition of biochar not only improves soil structure, fertility and water retention, but sequesters those evil greenhouse gases and locks nitrogen into the soil. For a very low tech way to make biochar check out the very short video here. 

Biochar is gaining momentum worldwide, with the strongest uptake in India, China, the United States, and parts of Europe, where large volumes of crop residues and supportive climate policies make production viable. Recent global mapping shows that countries such as Bhutan, India, China, the U.S., and Brazil have some of the greatest technical potential for biochar production from agricultural residues. 

Sounds like magic right? My one concern is this. As markets for biochar grow, will it be as with woodchips and biomass energy – that is, without strict feedstock rules, a climate solution could end up outstripping the supply of waste and compromise biodiversity and the very “green banks” that are storing and converting our carbon dioxide emissions, removing pollution, holding the soil and water and even generating our rainfall. 

I have already mentioned Australia's adaptation measures in the previous post - dryland farming, water conservation, use of native grasses and so on,  but there are also a range of government programs such as its $100m* a year Future Drought Fund which are helping farmers and rural communities to build infrastructure and share innovations to ensure productivity and sustainability even under changing climatic conditions. It also funds ongoing research into emerging biosecurity threats such as new pests and diseases.  Given the wide range of climates within Australia -from the hot tropics in the North to the dry interior and the cool far South, state governments also have specific adaptation plans for their regions.

Australia’s national government is also advocating for global trade policies which reward lower emissions intensity in agricultural products, something which Europe is also doing because it would help to make switching to climate – friendly agriculture more attractive to farmers. 

* All this may seem expensive, but compared to what we are already spending on disaster relief and crop losses, it's small potatoes especially given the fact that our lives may very well depend on getting this right.

Spreading the Word 

International Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange

As well as international conferences, sector specific conferences and top -down information sharing via government departments, field officers and field days, there are a number of other avenues which ensure rapid diffusion of new ideas.

Digital platforms such as the FAO’s Open Knowledge Pages or those of the Netherlands allow farmers in physically distant places to access information, share best practices and ensure rapid adoption of climate -smart agriculture. Additionally, Dutch farmers are participating in 80 demonstration plots involving 27 European countries so farmers can see the results of adaptation and mitigation measures.

While there are often formal consultations with farmers and stakeholders, online forums may allow for more two -way conversations -to not only share ideas but to ask questions, solve problems, but to have farmers' voices and experiences being heard and integrated into policy and processes. This could be especially important in the case of traditional practices and local knowledge.

At a time when conventional farming methods which worked for the last few generations can no longer be counted on, Indigenous agricultural knowledge is proving valuable. In the Brazilian Amazon participatory research with Indigenous communities showed that traditional home -garden agroforestry strengthens food security and climate resilience. In Africa, CGIAR researchers have documented how local farmers’ traditional weather indicators -animal behaviour, plant phenology, wind patterns, etc, are being integrated into adaptive climate monitoring tools to improve weather forecasting. 

Below are two more novel ways of reaching farmers.

1.     Smart Villages

The “Smart Village” Movement is a whole new development model usually revolving around digital access for a variety of purposes including agriculture, health and education.  India has multiple Smart Village programs, often in partnership with universities, governments and private companies and they are about rural development, digital agriculture, water management, and rural entrepreneurship. To see one in action, click here  

The  FAO  runs similar programs in Europe and Central Asia and the European Union is trialling Smart Villages in 24 regions in Estonia. In all, there are now around 1500 such villages in operation around the world.  

 Reality TV (Africa)

 One of the most original ideas has to be 'Shamba Shape Up.' This is a farm -makeover reality TV show in East Africa  which reaches  reaches 2+ million farmers across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, blending entertainment with practical agronomy, climate adaptation, and livestock advice. Research by CGIAR shows that at least 45% of viewers have applied at least one of the tips. 

It looks like fun. We have house renovation shows, garden makeover shows and Grand Design building projects, so why not this?  

The seeds have been planted and the roots are spreading- improve the soil, plant more diverse crops, conserve water, lower emissions, handle waste and resources more carefully. The question now is whether they’ll bear fruit in time to save us.

Have used all three of my AIs for this project. They stand by like good soldiers or good librarians to answer questions and recommend relevant texts. (All checked and cross - referenced). I owe the illustration at the top to Copilot, my first love, although it now no longer does

 The next post in this series will be about the Climate Impact and Remedies on Marine Environments, but don't wait up. There may be a few posts in between. I fully intend to spend Australia Day far from the Madding, Flag Waving Crowd. I plan to spend it in truly Australian fashion - that is, down at the beach and with perhaps a BBQ to follow.