Since the Breakthrough Agenda's launch at COP26 in 2021, international cooperation in agriculture has accelerated, highlighting food systems' vital role in climate mitigation, adaptation, food security, and environmental sustainability. The goal is to make climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture the most attractive and widely adopted choice for farmers worldwide by 2030. The 2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report stresses the urgent need for global collaboration to transform agriculture into a low-emissions, climate-resilient sector, ensuring food security, especially for vulnerable populations in ow- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Agriculture is responsible for nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with Livestock methane and fertilizer use are among the sector's most significant contributors to GHGs, making immediate and substantial reductions in these areas is crucial. The report emphasizes the potential of four key technologies to reduce emissions in agriculture: methane inhibitors and low-methane forages for livestock, and green ammonia and site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) for fertilizers production and application. Methane inhibitors like 3-NOP can cut enteric methane emissions by up to 30%, while low-methane forages adjust feed to naturally reduce emissions. Green ammonia, produced using renewable energy, offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-dependent fertilizer production, and SSNM minimizes nitrous oxide emissions by tailoring fertilizer application to crop needs. However, adoption faces challenges, including high costs, regulatory inconsistencies, limited technical support, and low market demand for low-emission products, particularly in LMICs. To drive progress, the report outlines five sets of priority actions, namely, finance; knowledge sharing; metrics and standards; support for RD&D; and trade and markets.
Recommendation for Priority Action
- Increase climate finance to fund and scale sustainable agricultural technologies by integrateing green finance frameworks, redirecting subsidies, and aligning global agendas.
- Promote global knowledge sharing on policies and practices through pledges, frameworks, and dialogues.
- Develop metrics based on robust global frameworks to track the adoption of sustainable solutions.
- Increase investment in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to scale innovative agricultural technologies, especially in LMICs.
- Enable the private sector to expand solutions through global markets to facilitate global trade in low-emission agricultural products.
