Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in animal agricultureLPE Learning Center
What steps can animal agriculture take to reduce (mitigate) the greenhouse gas emissions from their farms? What is carbon sequestration and how will that play a role? For more on this topic, visit: http://extension.org/60702
Challenged nutrient recycling in the animal based protein system. Recycling 2...Sirpa Kurppa
Presentation based to the article:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327049119_Applying_the_nutrient_footprint_method_to_the_beef_production_and_consumption_chain
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in animal agricultureLPE Learning Center
What steps can animal agriculture take to reduce (mitigate) the greenhouse gas emissions from their farms? What is carbon sequestration and how will that play a role? For more on this topic, visit: http://extension.org/60702
Challenged nutrient recycling in the animal based protein system. Recycling 2...Sirpa Kurppa
Presentation based to the article:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327049119_Applying_the_nutrient_footprint_method_to_the_beef_production_and_consumption_chain
Getting Farmers to improve the productivity of ruminants is a key way to improve rural livelihoods and improve food security .Farming systems that are more productive generally reduce enteric methane emissions per unit of animal product
Presentation at:
Meeting global food needs with lower emissions:
IPCC report findings on climate change mitigation in agriculture
A dialog among scientists, practitioners and financiers
April 16, 2014
World Bank, Washington, DC
Following the April 13th release of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on Mitigation, including Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU), this event will provided an opportunity to listen to IPCC authors summarize their findings and for all participants to join in a dialog with practitioners and financiers to discuss actionable steps for mitigation in the agricultural sector.
The event was a joint effort of the World Bank, the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
Presentation to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
12 October 2018, Beijing, China
Presented by Dong Hongmin Ph.D, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
Food systems and natural resources-2016 Food Security and Climate change im...New Food Innovation Ltd
"We are what we eat, they say . Our Existence and, therefore, any of aspirations we might have as a society depend on the availability of , and access to, food. At the same time , our food depends on the state of natural resources .The Food we grow, harvest and trade , transport , store , sell and consumer is therefore one of the essential connecting threads between culture and wellbeing, their health and that of the planet
The International Journal of Engineering & Science is aimed at providing a platform for researchers, engineers, scientists, or educators to publish their original research results, to exchange new ideas, to disseminate information in innovative designs, engineering experiences and technological skills. It is also the Journal's objective to promote engineering and technology education. All papers submitted to the Journal will be blind peer-reviewed. Only original articles will be published.
The papers for publication in The International Journal of Engineering& Science are selected through rigorous peer reviews to ensure originality, timeliness, relevance, and readability.
Presentation at the Low Emissions Livestock: Supporting Policy Making and Implementation through Science in East Africa regional awareness raising workshop held at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 2 and 4 July 2018.
Moringa is a plantfood of high nutritional value, ecologically and economically beneficial and readily available in the countries hardest hit by the food crisis. http://miracletrees.org/ http://moringatrees.org/
How does agriculture, especially animal agriculture, impact greenhouse gas emissions? What is adaptation and mitigation and how are these different? For more materials on this topic visit http://www.extension.org/pages/63908/greenhouse-gases-and-animal-agriculture
Email:fanwayfertilizermachinery@gmail.com
Compared with chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizers have lots of benefits. It also has wide application. Using organic fertilizer helps plants growth and soil improvement. What's more, it is cheap and benefiticial to plants.
Presentation On Winds,Storms, & Cyclones....Sourav Shaw
This is the best & wonderful presentation for the students who gets projects in school,colleges on winds,storms & cyclones.This presentation makes you easier to submit your project within the time limits.It shall may saves your time.
Getting Farmers to improve the productivity of ruminants is a key way to improve rural livelihoods and improve food security .Farming systems that are more productive generally reduce enteric methane emissions per unit of animal product
Presentation at:
Meeting global food needs with lower emissions:
IPCC report findings on climate change mitigation in agriculture
A dialog among scientists, practitioners and financiers
April 16, 2014
World Bank, Washington, DC
Following the April 13th release of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on Mitigation, including Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU), this event will provided an opportunity to listen to IPCC authors summarize their findings and for all participants to join in a dialog with practitioners and financiers to discuss actionable steps for mitigation in the agricultural sector.
The event was a joint effort of the World Bank, the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).
Presentation to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
12 October 2018, Beijing, China
Presented by Dong Hongmin Ph.D, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
Food systems and natural resources-2016 Food Security and Climate change im...New Food Innovation Ltd
"We are what we eat, they say . Our Existence and, therefore, any of aspirations we might have as a society depend on the availability of , and access to, food. At the same time , our food depends on the state of natural resources .The Food we grow, harvest and trade , transport , store , sell and consumer is therefore one of the essential connecting threads between culture and wellbeing, their health and that of the planet
The International Journal of Engineering & Science is aimed at providing a platform for researchers, engineers, scientists, or educators to publish their original research results, to exchange new ideas, to disseminate information in innovative designs, engineering experiences and technological skills. It is also the Journal's objective to promote engineering and technology education. All papers submitted to the Journal will be blind peer-reviewed. Only original articles will be published.
The papers for publication in The International Journal of Engineering& Science are selected through rigorous peer reviews to ensure originality, timeliness, relevance, and readability.
Presentation at the Low Emissions Livestock: Supporting Policy Making and Implementation through Science in East Africa regional awareness raising workshop held at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 2 and 4 July 2018.
Moringa is a plantfood of high nutritional value, ecologically and economically beneficial and readily available in the countries hardest hit by the food crisis. http://miracletrees.org/ http://moringatrees.org/
How does agriculture, especially animal agriculture, impact greenhouse gas emissions? What is adaptation and mitigation and how are these different? For more materials on this topic visit http://www.extension.org/pages/63908/greenhouse-gases-and-animal-agriculture
Email:fanwayfertilizermachinery@gmail.com
Compared with chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizers have lots of benefits. It also has wide application. Using organic fertilizer helps plants growth and soil improvement. What's more, it is cheap and benefiticial to plants.
Presentation On Winds,Storms, & Cyclones....Sourav Shaw
This is the best & wonderful presentation for the students who gets projects in school,colleges on winds,storms & cyclones.This presentation makes you easier to submit your project within the time limits.It shall may saves your time.
RAFI's #UnSelfie Template for #GivingTuesdayRAFI-USA
Join thousands of individuals and organizations across the globe on December 2, 2014 to celebrate #GivingTuesday, an international day of giving back. Celebrate generosity by giving your time, talent, money or voice - and start by sharing your very own #unselfie.
Creating an #unselfie to support RAFI in four easy steps:
1) Print out the #unselfie template or grab a piece of paper.
2) Write down how and why you are giving back this #GivingTuesday.
3) Take a moment to snap a selfie - but instead of showing your smile, feature a handwritten message about why you are giving back by supporting RAFI.
4) Post your photo to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest - and be sure to tag @rafiusa so we can celebrate together!
By Liana Hoodes, Michael Sligh, Harriet Behar, Roger Blobaum, Lisa J. Bunin, Lynn Coody, Elizabeth Henderson, Faye Jones, Mark Lipson, Jim Riddle.
Published January 2010.
This National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) represents the culmination of five years of meetings that engaged diverse stakeholders in envisioning the future of organic and in building strategies for realizing our collective vision. The NOAP articulates a vision for the future of organic food and agriculture in the United States. It engages collaborators from across the organic community. The NOAP sets out a broad set of goals to guide organic agriculture in the United States over the next ten years.
2009 NOAP Summit Discussion Paper: Towards a National Organic Action PlanRAFI-USA
February 25 & 26, 2009.
LaCrosse, WI
This National Organic Action Plan Summit Discussion Paper represents nearly five years of dialogue meetings among a wide cross section of organic movement and industry with the express purpose of encouraging the development of a National Organic Action Plan that reflects the passions, concerns, hopes, and visions of this diverse and thriving community.
How to Conduct a Mineral Rights Title SearchRAFI-USA
Do you own your mineral rights? If you don’t, someone could drill on your land without your consent. Read to learn the steps you can take to find out if you own your mineral rights.
This handout includes:
I. Who Owns the Mineral Rights Under Your Land?
II. One Important Caveat
III. What Will You Need to Begin a Title Search?
IV. Where Do You Search?
V. What Are You Looking For?
VI. What Is a Deed Chain?
VII. What If Someone Else Owns the Mineral Rights Under Your Land?
2015 print final pivovari presentation 16 07ilko gruev
ези и още актуални резултати от развитието на сектора през 2014 г. и 2015 г. бяха представени по време на пресконференция на Съюза на пивоварите, дни преди професионалния празник на бранша – Илинден. В събитието взеха участие: Владимир Иванов – председател на Управителния съвет на СПБ, Николай Младенов - изпълнителен директор на „Загорка” АД, Христо Попов – изп. директор на „Бритос” ЕООД, Марко Ниавро – генерален директор на „Каменица” АД, Димитър Чукарски – Председател на Съвета на директорите на „Ломско пиво” АД, Анета Сланчева – мениджър „Правни и корпоративни въпроси“ на „Карлсберг България” АД, Ивана Радомирова - изп. директор на Съюза на пивоварите в България (СПБ).
Come to the Table Guidebook: Second EditionRAFI-USA
The second edition of the Come to the Table Guidebook is a 40-page publication released in 2015 by RAFI, the NC Council of Churches and Resourceful Communities. It includes snapshots of community groups that have pioneered innovative food access work, the current status of hunger and agriculture in North Carolina and nationally, along with new resources and stories from faith leaders and from the field.
28 CHAPTER 4 THE CARBON FOOTPRINT CONTROVERSY Wha.docxnovabroom
28
CHAPTER 4: THE CARBON FOOTPRINT CONTROVERSY
What is the carbon footprint controversy?
Nearly all humans consume meat, dairy, and egg products in some form. In recent years the
e i me al m eme ha ed he ece i f ed ci g e ca b f i . Ca e
reduce our footprint without changing our diet? Much controversy surrounds that question. One
very extreme view on the political-left is below.
But when it comes to bad for the environment, nothing literally compares with eating meat. The business of raising
animals for food causes about 40 percent more global warming than all cars, trucks, and planes combined. If you care
about the planet, it's actually better to eat a salad in a Hummer than a cheeseburger in a Prius.
Bill Maher, host of HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher, writing in the Huffington Post in 2009. Accessed April 25,
2013 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/new-rule-a-hole-in-one-sh_b_259281.html.
The last decade has seen a movement advocating a vegan diet in order to reduce carbon emissions,
and in some respects the argument is logical. After all, it takes about 3.388 lbs of corn (and many
other inputs) to produce a single pound of retail beef, making meat seem relatively inefficient to
grains, thus leading to a larger carbon footprint.134 So common is this notion that some schools
e c age Mea le M da for the sake of the environment. The Meatless Monday movement
has even been adopted by the Norwegian military.135 Moreover, there is some scientific research
showing that vegan (and vegetarian) diets do result in a smaller carbon footprint.136
When dealing with issues as big as global warming i ea feel hel le , like he e li le e ca d make a
diffe e ce B he mall cha ge e make e e da ca ha e a eme d im ac . Tha h his Meatless Monday
resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.
Los Angeles Councilmember Ed Reyes, co-author of a Meatless Monday resolution in 2012.137
However, equally prestigious research shows that vegan diets can result in a higher carbon
footprint.138 How can this be? One reason is that some carbon footprint estimates are wrong, or
rather, interpreted incorrectly. The idea of livestock production being a large carbon emitter began
with a report by the United Nations (UN) suggesting that livestock contributes 18% f he ld
carbon footprint, more than the transportation sector,139 thus giving Bill Maher reason to point the
blame at burgers instead of Hummers.
It turns out that this 18% is fraught with errors, a lea , d e e e e c di i i he U.S.
For instance, the UN did not account for the carbon emissions involved in making the inputs used
in the transportation sector, but they did for livestock. This would be like saying the production of
tires has zero carbon emissions but the production of corn does. Also, that 18% makes a number of
contestable assumptions, especially regardi.
28
CHAPTER 4: THE CARBON FOOTPRINT CONTROVERSY
What is the carbon footprint controversy?
Nearly all humans consume meat, dairy, and egg products in some form. In recent years the
e i me al m eme ha ed he ece i f ed ci g e ca b f i . Ca e
reduce our footprint without changing our diet? Much controversy surrounds that question. One
very extreme view on the political-left is below.
But when it comes to bad for the environment, nothing literally compares with eating meat. The business of raising
animals for food causes about 40 percent more global warming than all cars, trucks, and planes combined. If you care
about the planet, it's actually better to eat a salad in a Hummer than a cheeseburger in a Prius.
Bill Maher, host of HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher, writing in the Huffington Post in 2009. Accessed April 25,
2013 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/new-rule-a-hole-in-one-sh_b_259281.html.
The last decade has seen a movement advocating a vegan diet in order to reduce carbon emissions,
and in some respects the argument is logical. After all, it takes about 3.388 lbs of corn (and many
other inputs) to produce a single pound of retail beef, making meat seem relatively inefficient to
grains, thus leading to a larger carbon footprint.134 So common is this notion that some schools
e c age Mea le M da for the sake of the environment. The Meatless Monday movement
has even been adopted by the Norwegian military.135 Moreover, there is some scientific research
showing that vegan (and vegetarian) diets do result in a smaller carbon footprint.136
When dealing with issues as big as global warming i ea feel hel le , like he e li le e ca d make a
diffe e ce B he mall cha ge e make e e da ca ha e a eme d im ac . Tha h his Meatless Monday
resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.
Los Angeles Councilmember Ed Reyes, co-author of a Meatless Monday resolution in 2012.137
However, equally prestigious research shows that vegan diets can result in a higher carbon
footprint.138 How can this be? One reason is that some carbon footprint estimates are wrong, or
rather, interpreted incorrectly. The idea of livestock production being a large carbon emitter began
with a report by the United Nations (UN) suggesting that livestock contributes 18% f he ld
carbon footprint, more than the transportation sector,139 thus giving Bill Maher reason to point the
blame at burgers instead of Hummers.
It turns out that this 18% is fraught with errors, a lea , d e e e e c di i i he U.S.
For instance, the UN did not account for the carbon emissions involved in making the inputs used
in the transportation sector, but they did for livestock. This would be like saying the production of
tires has zero carbon emissions but the production of corn does. Also, that 18% makes a number of
contestable assumptions, especially regardi.
Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock manure (cattle) in different feeding ...Open Access Research Paper
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) reported that the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions with 18% of the total CO2 emissions, 3% higher than the transport sector with 15%. Thus, urgent action is needed to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gasses from livestock. The study used twenty-four (24) heads of cattle (eight natives, eight crossbreeds, and eight Brahman). These test animals were distributed in the four experimental treatments: treatment 1- commercial feeding practices, treatment 2- good agricultural practices, treatment 3- conventional feeding practices, and treatment 4- organic agricultural practices. The result shows that conventional feeding practice had the lowest greenhouse gas emission with an average emission of 1,996.37 L, while good agricultural practice is the highest (3,614, 59 L) and is a significant difference among treatment means (p = >0.05). With regards to the breeds of cattle, crossbreeds had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions (2,030.87 L) while Brahman was the highest (3,312.42 L) with no significant difference (p = >0.05). Moreover, gas chromatography analysis shows methane had the highest percent emission (52-72%), followed by carbon dioxide (16.33-18.33%) and other gasses (11-22%). The findings revealed that feeding practices affect the emission and composition of greenhouse gasses in cattle manure.
Reducing meat consumption can benefit China from a health resource , climate and geopolitical perspective.Over 50% of the population is suffering from environmental-related illnesses many of which are made worse by higher meat consumption , such as heart disease , obesity , cancer and diabetes , China having 20% of population but 33% of the worlds diabetics - Child obesity has quadrupled in a single generation . The rising health care costs associated with these emerging crisis will be significant
Andre Leu, Chairman of the Organic Federation of Australia, declares that organic farming is the most natural form of "Carbon Farming" and explains why.
Are you ready to vote in your FSA county committee election but not sure how? This document will show you how to properly fill out an FSA county committee ballot.
Note: FSA ballots are mailed to farmers prior to an election. The back of the mailing has a large print of the USDA logo.
Source: RAFI's Farmer Leadership Network
For more information visit: http://rafiusa.org/farmer-leadership-network/
Proceedings of the 2014 Summit on Seeds & Breeds for 21st Century AgricultureRAFI-USA
To address both the growing crisis in seed biodiversity and our global capacity to develop diverse seed and breed varieties, RAFI and the Coalition for Seeds and Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture organized the 2014 Summit on Seeds and Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture.
The event, which was held in Washington, DC in March of 2014 brought together plant breeders, experts on the seed industry, farmers, activists and academics representing ten universities, twelve civil society organizations and four seed collections to discuss the state of our global seed supply and develop recommendations for reinvigorating public breeding research and increasing seed availability in the country.
The Proceedings of the 2014 Summit on Seeds & Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture provide a compilation of the summit keynote papers, response papers, presentations and findings, as well as a summary of recommendations collaboratively developed by summit participants during discussion.
The publication includes the summit keynote papers authored by well-known plant breeders and researchers in the plant breeding field including:
• William Tracy, a sweet corn breeder with the University of Wisconsin;
• Major Goodman, a corn breeder and professor of crop science at North Carolina State University;
• Tommy Carter, a research geneticist and professor of crop science at North Carolina State University;
• David Ellis, the head of the Genebank Unit at the International Potato Center in Peru;
• Kathy Jo Wetter, Research Director of ETC Group’s Action Group on Erosion, Technology & Concentration;
• Michael Mazourek, a vegetable breeder and professor of plant breeding at Cornell University; and
• Charles Brummer, Senior V.P. Director of Forage Improvement at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.
Learn more: http://rafiusa.org/publications/seeds/
The Final Report released by the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) in response to public comments on the draft fracking rules. A few of the proposed changes strengthen the rule set, especially those requiring Surface Use Agreements for any proposed drilling unit application. Unfortunately, some of the most inadequate rules, such as setbacks for high occupancy building, remain unchanged.
Executive Summary from Proceedings of 2014 Summit on Seeds & Breeds for 21st ...RAFI-USA
A compilation of 2014 Seed Summit keynote papers, response papers, presentations, findings, and a summary of recommendations to address the seed crisis.
The 2013 Annual Report from the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA.
For more information contact:
RAFI-USA
PO Box 640
Pittsboro, NC 27312
www.rafiusa.org
Managing Specialty Crop Risk in North Carolina 2013RAFI-USA
Addressing risk is critical to the survival of family farms. Specialty crops in particular face a greater challenge. Over the past year, RAFI worked with specialty crop farmers across North Carolina to research and write Managing Specialty Crop Risk in North Carolina.
Presented by Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA) Research & Policy Associate James Robinson. August 8, 2013.
Contact James Robinson with any questions: james@rafiusa.org
919-542-1396 ext. 209
For more information about forced pooling and landowner rights visit: http://rafiusa.org/issues/landowner-rights-and-fracking/
Letter to Congress: A Full and Fair Farm Bill (July 2013)
The Benefit of Organic Agriculture for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Mitigating & Adapting to Climate Change
1. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 1 of 10
National Organic Coalition
www.nationalorganiccoalition.org
June 10, 2009
Chairman Collin Peterson Chairman Henry Waxman
Ranking Member Frank Lucas Ranking Member Joe Barton
House Committee on Agriculture Committee on Energy and Commerce
1301 Longworth House Office Building 2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Chairman Edward Markey
Ranking Member Fred Upton
Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2108 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE: THE BENEFIT OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS AND MITIGATING AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Dear Chairmen Peterson, Waxman and Markey, and Ranking Members Lucas, Barton and
Upton:
On behalf of our organizations and members, we are collectively writing to encourage the
Committees to recognize the benefits of organic agriculture practices for reducing greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating and adapting to climate change. Currently, the American
Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) offers an opportunity for the Committees to include
organic farmers and organic practices in climate change legislation. To date, the agricultural
sector has been largely overlooked as both a major source of GHG emissions and a potential tool
for mitigation. Within the agricultural sector, increasing peer-reviewed research is
demonstrating that organic and other systems that prioritize soil health and carbon addition as
well as avoid the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, have the greatest
potential for reducing GHG emissions and combating and mitigating climate change impacts in
the future.
In particular, we recommend, based upon the scientific evidence included in this letter, the
following organic practices to be eligible for offset credits within the current legislation for either
their ability to reduce emissions or to sequester carbon: 1) Certified organic agriculture for its
2. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 2 of 10
demonstrated ability to fundamentally reduce GHGs; 2) Cover cropping and abstaining from
fallow fields, particularly with leguminous crops which can reduce synthetic fertilizer use and
sequester carbon; 3) Abstaining from synthetic pesticide use; 4) Abstaining from synthetic
fertilizer use; 5) Addition of compost and/or manures into soils at an appropriate rate determined
by a nutrient management plan; 6) Organically managed and rotational pasture, range and
paddock lands for meat and dairy production for their demonstrated ability to sequester carbon.
Furthermore, we also encourage the Committees to consider adaptation programs in the current
legislation that will benefit all types of agriculture. Additional research is needed to build upon
existing research that demonstrates that organic production systems may be better suited for
potential climate change impacts. We recommend that the Committees establish adaptation
research programs to better investigate these issues.
We further encourage the Committees to first acknowledge and address the significant
contributions of industrial agriculture to global warming. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) estimates that agriculture is responsible for two-thirds of all domestic nitrous
oxide emissions and one-third of all domestic methane emissions.1
Notable because of its unique
potency and persistence, methane has 21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide,
and nitrous oxide is 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide.2
Estimates of food system GHG emissions, as a percent of total emissions, are as high as one-
third of all global emissions.34
In the United States, it is estimated that the food system uses
nearly 20% of our total energy and fossil fuel requirements in the country.5
The production,
packaging, and application of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, substances prohibited under the
Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), account for much of this energy use. Each year, the
U.S. agricultural system uses nearly forty billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers6
and more than
one billion pounds of synthetic pesticides.7
Fully 40% of all agriculture production energy goes
into making synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.8
The production of synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides contributes more than 480 million tons of GHG emissions to the atmosphere each
year.9
In addition, the EPA estimates that, once on soils, synthetic fertilizers generate over 304 million
pounds of GHG emissions annually.10
Any serious approach to climate change must address the
enormous contributions of conventional, industrial agricultural systems to the production and
accumulation of GHGs.
Reducing Greenhouse Gases with Organic Practices and Systems
Fortunately, there are proven ways to reduce emissions from agriculture and, moreover, use
agriculture as a tool for climate change mitigation: transition agriculture in the direction of
organic and related systems. As stated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), “[w]ith lower energy inputs, organic systems contribute less to GHG emissions and have
a greater potential to sequester carbon in biomass than conventional systems.”11
While mitigation of GHGs is important and will be discussed below, it is crucial to begin the
discussion with ways to fundamentally reduce GHG emissions in agriculture. Only if the
background emissions of agriculture are reduced will the reduction of carbon levels through
3. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 3 of 10
sequestration make any real difference. Scientific studies are increasingly demonstrating that
organic agriculture has an overall lower global warming potential (GWP) and significantly fewer
GHGs. Research published last year demonstrated that organic commodity cropping systems
required half the energy inputs and have about three-fourths the total GWP of conventional
systems.12
Additional studies show that organic cropping systems use about thirty percent less fossil-fuel
energy than conventional systems.13
A key reason for the reduced GWP of organic systems is
the elimination of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. And, new evidence shows that such
benefits at the production stage are reflected in life cycle analyses of processed products. In a
recent study comparing the life cycle emissions of organic and conventional wheat bread,
scientists concluded that organic wheat bread has about 30g of CO2-eq less than that of the
conventional loaf.14
In addition, organic systems also reduce nitrate leaching from fertilizers in comparison to
intensive conventional agriculture systems,15
and organic compost has the ability to reduce
nitrogen and phosphorus leaching five-fold when compared to synthetic fertilizers.16
By
comparison, organic production systems that use cover crops, compost, and intercropping instead
of synthetic fertilizer not only avoid the initial GHG emissions from the production of fertilizers,
but also prevent fertilizers from leaching into waterways.
Organic and Pasture-Based Animal Production
Organic and pasture-based animal production can also play a significant role in reducing GHG
emissions. Animal production contributes nearly one fifth of all global GHG emissions, thus
making it a significant source of GHG emissions.17
Many of the synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides used in the United States are for feed crops for animal production. It is estimated that
about half of the grain and oilseeds grown in the United States are fed to livestock,18
and
conventional grain-fed beef requires twice as many energy inputs as grass-fed beef.19
Scientists
have suggested that reducing feed grains is the single best way to cut GHG emissions in animal
agriculture.20
A 2006 life cycle assessment of three modes of Irish beef production – conventional, pasture-
raised, and organic – found that both pasture-raised and organic systems generate fewer GHGs
than the conventional system, with the organic system producing 17 percent less than
conventional. The difference would likely be even more dramatic in comparison to U.S.
conventional beef production, since Irish beef cattle are primarily finished on grass rather than
grain.21
Other research has drawn similar conclusions, finding that organic animal production
systems have more than one-third less GWP of intensive systems as well as reduced impacts on
eutrophication and acidification.22
Manure management and enteric fermentation are also significant sources of GHG emissions.23
Part of the reduction in GHGs associated with pasture-based animal agriculture is the result of
reduced methane emissions from enteric fermentation. Enteric fermentation is a biological
process involving microbial fermentation that occurs during the digestive processes of animals,
especially ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats. A byproduct of this process is
methane which is either exhaled or eructated. In the United States, 95% of all methane
4. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 4 of 10
emissions from enteric fermentation are from beef and dairy cattle. Enteric fermentation
emissions increased by 4.3% between 1990 and 2007, and between 2005 and 2007, beef and
dairy enteric fermentation emissions continued to climb.24
Enteric fermentation is now the single
largest source of methane emissions in the United States.25
Diet can play a significant role in reducing methane emissions from enteric fermentation.
Scientific studies show that the addition of fats in the diet from natural sources typically found in
pasture-based systems including sunflowers, flaxseed and alfalfa can reduce emissions.26
In
general, studies have found that such additions can reduce methane emissions by about 20%.27
Additional research demonstrates that cattle fed feedlot diets, often rich in corn and soy rather
than forage, have higher rates of emissions. One study found that methane production was 20%
higher in beef steers from a feedlot where they were fed low forage to grain diet compared to
steers on high forage to grain diet.28
Grazing on high-quality forage reduced methane emissions
up to 22% in beef cattle in one study.29
Authors of another study noted, “The reduction in
methane emissions was related to better digestibility of high quality forage, which resulted in
better efficiency of utilization, as was observed in higher average daily gain.”30
Recent reports
suggest that farmers are beginning to recognize the benefit of changing diets to reduce methane
emissions, and that the food industry is encouraging the grazing of cattle on natural forages and
grasslands to do so.31
In 2007, the EPA reported that livestock manure management is responsible for over 55 million
metric tons of GHG emissions,32
mostly in the form of methane and nitrous oxide. Improper
manure storage in large-scale systems typically found in concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs) increase GHG emissions because waste is often pooled in large lagoons and holding
ponds rather than being directly incorporated into soils.33
During manure storage and
decomposition, gaseous by-products including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and
methane are produced and released into the atmosphere.34
The EPA has determined that when manures are stored or treated in systems that promote
anaerobic conditions, like liquid storage systems commonly found in CAFOs, the decomposition
of manure produces great amounts of methane, unlike when manure is handled as a solid or
deposited on pasture, range or paddock lands. Manures spread appropriately on pastures and
paddocks produce minimal amounts of methane.35
Research has also documented that manure
stores on conventional farms emitted about twenty-five percent more methane gas than organic
farms.36
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation through Carbon Sequestration
As mentioned above, organic production systems and practices also have the ability to mitigate
GHG emissions through carbon sequestration. FAO has noted that “organic soil management
focuses on increasing soil organic matter, which increases carbon sequestered in the soil.
Organic practices that do so include addition of manure and plant residue to the fields, mixed
cropping, green manuring, legume-based crop rotations, agroforestry and minimum tillage.”37
While many types of agriculture have the ability to sequester carbon, organic agriculture has
demonstrated that it can sequester more carbon and build soil better than conventional systems,
including conventional no-till systems.38
Research performed at the USDA found that after nine
5. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 5 of 10
years of comparing various no-till systems to organic systems, the organic production system
sequestered more carbon. Scientists noted, “Despite the use of tillage, soil combustible carbon
and nitrogen concentrations were higher at all depth intervals to 30cm in organic agriculture
compared with that in all other systems.” Further, the scientists concluded that, “these results
suggest that organic agriculture can provide greater long-term soil benefits than conventional no-
till, despite the use of tillage in organic agriculture.”39
Numerous studies have further shown that organic soils can sequester more carbon than
conventional soils and that synthetic fertilizer can have a negative impact on carbon
sequestration.40414243
In one eighteen-year study comparing fields fertilized organically to those
synthetically fertilized, scientists found that the organic fields sequestered three to eight more
tons of carbon per hectare.44
In comparisons of field trials of organic and conventional farming plots, researchers found that
while soil carbon levels were initially the same, after more than two decades the organic systems
had significantly higher soil carbon levels. The organic systems—one using legume cover crops
and the other using manure—retained more carbon in the soil, “resulting in an annual soil carbon
increase of 981 and 574 kg per hectare…compared with only 293 kg per hectare in the
conventional system.”45
Similar long-term research at the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) demonstrated that organic agriculture increased overall soil health more
than conventional no-till methods and resulted in increased yields over conventional
production.46
Further, organic grazing systems can sequester more carbon than confined animal systems. In
the United States, certified organic animal production has a pasture component that requires
livestock producers to utilize organic pasture systems as a significant portion of the animal’s
diet.47
One study has shown that pastured animals in rotational intensive grazing could increase
soil carbon to offset GHG emission by 15 to 30 percent.48
Soils and pastures are carbon sinks;
pasture-based farming methods could absorb up to 21 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and
up to 7.8 million metric tons of nitrous oxide in the organic matter of pasture soils.49
Organic Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security
One of the greatest challenges of climate change will be finding ways to adapt to the myriad of
potential impacts. Securing and maintaining a food system that can continue to produce, despite
unexpected weather and climate events, is crucial for the future. Organic agriculture, which may
be more resilient to climate change impacts, will be a necessary component to this challenge.
The FAO has taken note of this in a 2006 paper: “As climate change occurs, the ecosystem on a
diversified organic farm is more likely to go through natural stages of succession, adapting in
ways that prevent whole agroecosystem collapse.”50
Among the greatest threats of climate change will be the impact on biodiversity and the potential
global loss of life. Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem functioning and maintenance; as
biodiversity decreases it will be extremely difficult to retrieve and recover.51
The FAO notes that
monoculture practices will also likely decrease biodiversity, a crucial component to health
agroecosystems.
6. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 6 of 10
“Simplifying farms by growing monocultures and removing vegetation in the margins
further reduces biodiversity in and around farms. Such practices not only cause
environmental damage but create agroecosystems that will be less resilient to climate
change. Organic farms, on the other hand, are designed with biodiversity in mind, as
diverse ecosystems provide a number of important services on the farm.”52
Considering the loss of biodiversity as a potential climate change threat is vital for species
preservation. Endangered and extinct species are already documented throughout the world, but
climate change is causing more subtle losses in species and diversity.53
Many of the species
more prevalent in organic farming were known to have declining diversity and numbers as a
result of previous agriculture intensification.54
The biodiversity benefits associated with organic
farms likely derive from the management practices absent from or rarely utilized in most
conventional systems.55
Specifically, organic farms have considerably more spiders,56
birds,57
butterflies,58
and other species,59
in both number and species count. Maintaining biodiversity on
farms will be crucial to sustaining food production and ecosystem functions and organic
production can perform this task.
Climate change also has the potential to threaten agriculture through changing water and weather
patterns increasing both drought and run-off.60
Soil organic matter and soil carbon content are
important for water absorption and retention and can be greatly affected by changes in these
elements.61
Increasing organic matter in soils leads to a direct increase in the ability of soils to
retain water62
and will be an important tool for combating drought and potential flood conditions
from increasing snow melt and runoff.63
Organic soils have higher levels of soil carbon and
research has shown that in drought conditions, organic systems produced corn yields twenty-
eight to thirty-four percent higher than conventional systems.64
As weather patterns and
precipitation continue to change, existing evidence suggests that organic agriculture will be
better able to adapt and continue to produce in uncertain conditions.
In light of the recent food crisis, our society is also reminded of the need to consider agricultural
development and food security threats that may result from climate change impacts, particularly
in developing countries. Research published this year in Science has clearly documented the
food security concerns of increasing global temperatures, noting with high probability that
growing season temperatures in the tropics and subtropics at the end of the 21st
century will
exceed even the most extreme temperatures recorded between 1990 and 2006. The conclusions
are simple: “Global climate change thus presents widespread risks of food insecurity”.65
Reports from the United Nations have recognized the vital role of organic agriculture in food
security. “Organic farming leads to many improvements in the natural environment, including
increased water retention in soils, improvements in the water table (with more drinking water in
the dry season), reduced soil erosion combined with improved organic matter in soils, leading to
better carbon sequestration, and increased agro-biodiversity. As a result, soils are healthier, are
better able to hold water and are more stable, can sustain plant growth better and have a higher
nutrient content. All this enables farmers to grow crops for longer periods, with higher yields
and in marginal conditions.”66
Further research has clearly shown that organic agriculture can
yield equal to or greater than conventional systems, particularly in developing countries that are
slated to be most affected by climate change impacts.67
7. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 7 of 10
As climate change legislation is discussed in Congress, we encourage you to incorporate
provisions and appropriate offsets that address the key role of agriculture in climate change.
Alternatives like organic production systems offer many benefits for the environment and our
nation’s many small family farms, which have a clear role to play in GHG mitigation. Further, it
is clear that organic practices are a viable option for farmers in developing countries and may
help increase food security in the face of climate change impacts.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you to help enact
comprehensive and progressive climate change legislation that will transition our economy to a
more sustainable future.
Sincerely,
Meredith Niles
Cool Foods Campaign Coordinator
Center for Food Safety
meredith@icta.org
Steve Etka
Legislative Coordinator
National Organic Coalition
steveetka@gmail.com
On behalf of The National Organic Coalition:
Jay Feldman, Beyond Pesticides
Meredith Niles, Lisa Bunin, Center for Food Safety
Keith Olcott, Equal Exchange
Patty Lovera, Food & Water Watch
Russell Libby, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Faye Jones, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services
Robynn Shrader, National Cooperative Grocers Association
Ed Maltby, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Steve Gilman, Northeast Organic Farming Association -Interstate Council
Michael Sligh, Rural Advancement Foundation International -USA
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Martha Noble
Organic Farming Research Foundation, Mark Lipson
Cc:
Anne Simmons, House Committee on Agriculture
Nona Darrell, House Committee on Agriculture
Nicole Scott, House Committee on Agriculture
Josh Maxwell, House Committee on Agriculture
Keith Jones, House Agriculture Committee
Rob Larew, House Agriculture Committee
8. NOC Organic Climate Change Letter June 10, 2009 Page 8 of 10
Joel Beauvais, Energy and Commerce Committee
Greg Dotson Energy and Commerce Committee
Alexandra Teitz, Energy and Commerce Committee
1
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