FAO & OECD Report: Agriculture’s GHG Emissions to Surge by 7.5% in Next Decade

According to a recent joint analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), GHG emissions from agriculture are expected to rise by 7.5% over the next 10 years.

This growth rate is slightly shy of half of the predicted output growth, demonstrating a considerable drop in agricultural production’s carbon intensity. According to the analysis, the livestock industry is predicted to account for an astounding 86% of the overall rise in emissions. This highlights the critical need for sustainable practises and new solutions in livestock management to reduce the sector’s environmental effect.

The report’s agricultural forecast portrays a diverse image for different regions. Agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions in North America are expected to fall, owing primarily to technological advances and improved farming practises. Sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand, is anticipated to see an increase in emissions as agricultural and livestock output increases. This highlights the significance of making transformative investments in the region’s agrifood systems to guarantee sustainable and environmentally friendly practises are implemented.

Latin America, on the other hand, is anticipated to continue emitting more greenhouse gases from agriculture than its proportion of global output. This emphasises the importance of specific measures to reduce emissions in this region, such as encouraging more efficient land use and sustainable agriculture practises.

The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2023-2032, which serves as the foundation for global agricultural commodities market estimates, gives vital insights into the sector’s medium-term prospects. The paper includes detailed decadal estimates for cereals, vegetable oils, dairy products, meat, sugar, fish, cotton, tropical fruits, pulses, and agricultural output utilised for biofuels.

Furthermore, preliminary estimates of the effect of food loss and waste are included, putting light on the relevance of tackling these issues in the context of lowering greenhouse gas emissions. With climate change looming, farmers, politicians, and stakeholders must collaborate to create and execute solutions that promote ecologically sound agricultural practises while guaranteeing global food security and economic success.