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Climate change

United Nations • Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Report: Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet net zero?

Nuffield Farming
755 subscribers
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563 views 7 months ago #NuffieldFarming #IamNuffield
Chris Taylor's report video "Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet net zero?", sponsored by McDonald’s UK & Ireland. Chris' full report can be downloaded from: https://bit.ly/4gi1SQ6 ***** Executive Summary UK agriculture is at the forefront of one of the biggest global challenges in meeting net zero by 2050. Net zero is a state in which greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere are offset by removal out of the atmosphere. UK agriculture is responsible for an estimated 45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum, which equates to 10% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is, however, well placed as an industry to offset emissions through sequestering carbon in soils in the form of organic matter. With climate change impacts being felt in the form of extreme weather patterns, the other aspect to consider is ensuring UK farms are resilient, both financially and environment …...more
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Report: Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet net zero?
6Likes
563Views
Sep 112024
Chris Taylor's report video "Do regenerative farming practices pave the way for UK agriculture to meet net zero?", sponsored by McDonald’s UK & Ireland. Chris' full report can be downloaded from: https://bit.ly/4gi1SQ6 ***** Executive Summary UK agriculture is at the forefront of one of the biggest global challenges in meeting net zero by 2050. Net zero is a state in which greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere are offset by removal out of the atmosphere. UK agriculture is responsible for an estimated 45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum, which equates to 10% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is, however, well placed as an industry to offset emissions through sequestering carbon in soils in the form of organic matter. With climate change impacts being felt in the form of extreme weather patterns, the other aspect to consider is ensuring UK farms are resilient, both financially and environmentally. Does regenerative farming provide a solution for UK farmers to meet net zero, whilst remaining profitable, enhancing the local environment and feeding a growing population? This study was undertaken to identify the main contributing factors of greenhouse gas emissions in UK agriculture and find solutions to mitigate their impact. One of the concerns for UK agriculture is that heavy polluting industries see the sequestration potential of farms as a tool they can utilise on their own path to net zero. This includes the purchase of prime agricultural land for planting trees, renewable energy generation such as solar, or for purchasing carbon credits from farmers. For productive agriculture to remain on UK shores, whilst meeting net zero, this study focused on regenerative farming as a system to sequester carbon in the form of soil organic matter, whilst reducing emissions associated with arable production. The initial area of interest was the USA and Canada to visit broadacre cropping farms that have been practicing regenerative farming techniques such as no-till establishment and cover cropping for decades. This was an important factor to evaluate the long-term effects of regenerative practices and learn from their experience, both positive and negative. The focus then shifted to regenerative practices in France and Scandinavia to ensure relevance to the UK in terms of soil types, cropping and climatic conditions. The outcome in visiting these countries was to gain an understanding of the innovative practices that can be implemented on UK farms to meet net zero in a holistic manner. Meeting net zero won’t be achieved via a single solution or idea but through incremental gains and an industry wide effort. For farmers, it’s important to understand the carbon balance in their individual businesses, to give clarity and direction for changes to be implemented. When fully integrated into a system-based approach, regenerative agriculture offers methods of mitigating these emissions on a path to net zero. When setting net zero as a target for a business, we should not lose sight of other considerations, including environmental, economic and social benefits. ***** Nuffield Farming Scholarships are awarded to approximately 20 members of the UK food, farming, horticulture and rural industries each year. These funds give Scholars the opportunity to travel the world studying their chosen topic and bring global best practices back to the UK by sharing their knowledge. For more information about Nuffield Farming Scholarships, visit www.NuffieldScholar.org or email charlotte@nuffieldscholar.org. Follow us on social media at @NuffieldFarming on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook! #NuffieldFarming #IamNuffield

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Nuffield Farming

755 subscribers