Smart Net-Zero

Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), Korea | Source |  

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) in Korea has laid out a comprehensive roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality in agriculture and rural areas while also enhancing resilience to climate change. The contributions to carbon neutrality in Korea's agriculture and rural regions are centered on two key strategies: minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, all while bolstering climate change response capabilities.

1. 2^nd Basic Plan for Climate Change: The development and announcement of the "2^nd Basic Plan for Climate Change Response in the Agricultural and Rural Sectors," which contains a detailed action plan to achieve carbon neutrality goals. Key actions include:

• Expansion of Low-Carbon Agricultural and Livestock Production: Focusing on establishing a foundation for low-carbon farming practices for both agricultural and livestock industries.
• Cultivating Subtropical Income Crops: Promoting the cultivation of income crops that are adapted to changing climate conditions and technological advancements.
• Enhanced Meteorological Disaster Early Warning Services: Expanding nationwide meteorological disaster early warning systems to better prepare for climate-related challenges.

2. Support for Low-Carbon Agriculture Practices: Prioritizing practices in sectors like livestock farming and rice farming that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. This includes:

• Livestock Farming: Measures include reducing emissions from livestock by optimizing breeding practices, supplying high-quality forage, and distributing low-methane feed.
• Fertilizers and Pesticides: Development and dissemination of farming methods that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as innovative irrigation techniques and precision spraying technology.
• Energy Conversion: Establishing an "Agricultural and Rural Energy Conversion Plan" that includes the transition to renewable energy sources for major agricultural facilities, including the 'RE100' initiative.

In addition to these strategies, MAFRA is committed to supporting the early scrapping of outdated agricultural machinery and vehicles that do not meet air pollutant emission standards, thereby further contributing to the reduction of emissions and advancing the goals of carbon neutrality and climate change adaptation in Korea's agriculture and rural sectors.