Agricultural emissions to rise 4%

Global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are projected to increase by 4% over the next 10 years, despite the carbon intensity of production declining. That is according to a new report from the UN food agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which forecasts that 80% of the increase will come from livestock.

The need to curb emissions while feeding the world is expected to be one of the greatest challenges for the sector, with demand for agricultural commodities forecast to grow at 1.2% per year by 2030. Consumers in middle-income countries are projected to increase food intake most significantly, while diets in low-income countries will remain largely unchanged.

The report also warns that COVID-19 has moved the world further away from achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and calls for “urgent attention” to the forces driving performance in agri-food systems. It explains how large-scale implementation of climate-smart production processes will be needed to mitigate emissions, especially in the livestock sector.

Read the full report at bit.ly/OECD_AgOutlook

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