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NEW MCKINSEY REPORT LISTS AG PRACTICES REDUCING CO2 EMISSIONS
May 11, 2020
Source: blog by Lauren Stine, AgFunder.com
Agriculture has been one of the main sectors implicated in the global debate around climate change. Although many stakeholders agree that changes need to be made to reduce food production's impact on the environment, knowing where to start and which practices would have the most impact is a challenge.
McKinsey & Company sought to answer that question in a new report released today identifying 25 measures to reduce on-farm emissions that could abate 4.6 gigatons of carbon emissions by 2050. In Agriculture and Climate Change: Reducing emissions through improved farming practices, McKinsey notes that one-quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to agricultural production. As our population increases, increases in food production can lead to even more emissions if modifications aren't adopted today, it warns.
There are a few themes among the 25 practices that the report recommends, including reducing fuel emissions, optimizing the use of existing resources, and improving soil health. The top 15 measures would contribute 85% of the report's projected total possible reduction in emissions.
Practices related to rice production also make a number of appearances on the list. During the 2018/2019 crop year, roughly 486.62 million metric tons of rice were consumed worldwide, according to Statista. Unsurprisingly, a number of startups are already innovating specifically for improvements in rice production from seeing their paddy on their iPads to changing the nutritional composition of rice.
Livestock production also has ample room for improvement, according to the report, from optimizing feed, selecting for the most climate-friendly genetics, and improving animal health.
To read the entire report click here.
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