The carbon footprint in the agricultural sector is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), produced during the food production process. Increased agricultural production worldwide has led to higher energy and water use, as well as increased greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the COP26 Climate Summit, emissions from agriculture and food production have increased by 17% in the past 30 years, with global agriculture producing 17 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2019, or around 31% of total global emissions. This makes agriculture one of the main contributors to climate change.
Reducing the carbon footprint in the agricultural sector is essential to achieving sustainable development goals. Measuring the carbon footprint in the agricultural sector helps to identify which part contributes the most to emissions, so that actions can be taken to reduce it. In this way, this effort not only supports food security but also protects the environment.
Carbon Footprint Definition
Carbon footprint is a method of measuring the total greenhouse gas emissions resulting from various human activities, both directly and indirectly. This concept was first introduced as part of the ecological footprint theory, which aims to measure how much humans utilize the natural environment.
Over time, carbon footprints have begun to focus more on calculating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from daily activities, including the production process, distribution, and use of products. Although the initial focus was only on CO2, many experts also include other greenhouse gas emissions such as NOx and SO2 in calculating carbon footprints.
The debate over the definition of carbon footprints continues, with some experts arguing that carbon footprints should include all greenhouse gas emissions produced throughout the life cycle of a product or activity. Meanwhile, others argue that carbon footprints should include other factors such as land use and surface reflectance that affect climate change.
Despite these differences of opinion, the majority of experts agree that carbon footprints are an important tool for measuring human impact on climate change. By understanding carbon footprints, we can take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development.
Carbon Footprint in the Agricultural Sector
In the agricultural sector, the carbon footprint measures the greenhouse gas emissions produced during the food production process, from planting to processing and distribution. Agricultural activities often involve the use of energy, fertilizers, and equipment that produce greenhouse gas emissions.
Measuring the carbon footprint in this sector is important for understanding the environmental impacts of food production and finding ways to reduce them. By using more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural technologies, the agricultural sector can reduce its carbon footprint while supporting food security and sustainable development.
Many researchers focus only on the negative impacts of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by the agricultural sector. However, it is important not to ignore the ability of agricultural systems to absorb carbon through soil and plant photosynthesis.
Several studies have shown that agricultural soil can absorb some carbon emissions, even making the carbon footprint negative. Thus, the agricultural sector has a dual nature as a source of emissions and a sink for carbon. Although there are various views on the definition of the carbon footprint in the agricultural sector, the main debates cover three points.
First, there is a difference of opinion on whether carbon sequestration by soil and plants should be included in the calculation. Second, should other greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) also be calculated in addition to CO2. Third, there are variations in the units of measurement used to calculate the carbon footprint in the agricultural sector.
There are two main methods used to calculate the carbon footprint, namely Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Input-Output Analysis (IOA). Both have different focuses and perspectives.
The LCA method focuses more on analyzing the carbon footprint throughout the life cycle of a product. This method provides a more detailed picture of how each stage contributes to carbon emissions, so it can help identify the parts that produce the most emissions and provide solutions to reduce them.
While IOA is used to analyze the carbon footprint at a more macro level, such as a particular sector or region. With this approach, IOA provides a broad view of the impact of economic policies or industry changes on overall carbon emissions, although it is not as detailed as LCA in analyzing individual stages of production.
In the study of carbon footprint in the agricultural sector, both of these methods have been applied to evaluate the impact of agricultural production on the environment. This research helps improve more environmentally friendly agricultural practices and techniques.
References
Miao, Z., Zhao, Z., Tengju, L., & Xiaodong, C. (2023). Carbon Footprint in Agriculture Sector: A Literature Review. Carbon Footprints, 2(13): 1-19. DOI: 10.20517/cf.2023.29.
Ozlu, E., Arriaga, F.J., Serdar, B., Gafur, G., & Emre, B. (2022). Carbon Footprint Management by Agriculture Practices. Biology, 11(1453): 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101453.