The Royal Society has released a report stemming from a part NFU-sponsored workshop on farming’s realistic potential to help mitigate greenhouse gases.
The fellowship of eminent scientists is the oldest such academy in continuous existence. Its event back in February looked at food security and, importantly, the carbon sequestration and bioenergy potential of our sector. The Society concluded that a large reduction in UK agricultural production to meet GHG reduction targets for 2050 would not be compatible with increasing global demand for food.
Its report summary adds that such a move:
- Would be morally irresponsible and economically unrealistic.
- Would have no global climate benefits as it would result in land elsewhere (undoubtedly less suited to food production) being converted to grain production to meet UK demand.
It also notes that agriculture in the UK is highly efficient relative to that in most other developed countries.
The report advises that scientific developments like improved crop nitrogen-use efficiency will be useful in reducing emissions. And it identifies several research priorities for the future - for example optimising productivity from high forage systems and engineering solutions to reduce methane and nitrous oxide from manures and slurries.
Its "logical deduction is that, in order to sustain food production in the UK, agriculture, the most basic of human support systems, will not be able to reduce emissions by 80%” (the UK's target by 2050). It adds that targets need to be more realistic, with other sectors taking up the burden. It also calls for the carbon stored and the reduction in fossil fuels use on farms to possibly be recognised in offsetting emissions.
A copy of the report is also available under Related Documents above.
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