Search
Reusing Abandoned Cropland for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation

September 28, 2023 | Nature Communications

 Introduction: Despite the growing challenge of land scarcity for agriculture, there is a significant global trend of cropland abandonment. Researchers from National University of Singapore has identified 101 million hectares of potential cropland that was abadoned between 1992 and 2020 from time series recently published by ESA Climate Change Initiatives (ESA-CCI), and explores the potential and trade-offs associated with reusing abandoned cropland for both food security and climate change mitigation spatially-explicit modeling and scenario analysis. 

 Key findings: The modeling results suggest that this abandoned cropland could simultaneously contribute to food production potential (ranging from 29 to 363 Peta-calories yr-1) and net climate change mitigation potential (ranging from 290 to 1,066 MtCO2 yr-1), depending on land-use suitability and allocation strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of spatial prioritization to maximize the achievable potential of abandoned cropland. The study also presents various approaches to further enhance these potentials.

Conclusion:  Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights into the possibilities of repurposing abandoned cropland for sustainable land management, offering a timely perspective to support both food security and climate goals.

 

Read more: The neglected role of abandoned cropland in supporting both food security and climate change mitigation

 

 

Fig. | Global abandoned cropland: extent, suitability, and potential.  

Viewed Articles
Reusing Abandoned Cropland for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation
September 28, 2023 | Nature Communications |  Introduction: Despite the growing challenge of land scarcity for agriculture, there is a significant global trend of cropland abandonment. Researchers fro
Read More
Priority science can accelerate agroforestry as a natural climate solution
28 September, 2023 | nature climate change | Source |  Introduction: Agroforestry presents significant potential for sequestering up to 0.31 Peta gram of carbon (Pg C) annually— comparable to major so
Salt marsh restoration: an overview of techniques and success indicators
January 6, 2022 | Environmental Science and Pollution Research | Source |  Introduction: Salt marshes are vital coastal ecosystems that support biodiversity, store carbon and protect shorelines. Yet,
Blue carbon as a natural climate solution
November 1, 2021 | Nature Reviews Earth & Environment | Source | Introduction: An international research team from Australia, USA, Singapore, UK and Saudi Arabia, led by Deakin University (Australia)
Mulberry based agroforestry system and canopy management practices to combat soil erosion and enhancing carbon sequestration in degraded lands of Himalayan foothills
December, 2024 | Environmental and Sustainability Indicators | Source |  Introduction: Agroforestry offers a cost-effective solution for restoring degraded mountain lands by stabilizing soil, reducing
Opportunities for mitigating net system greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asian rice production: A systematic review
February 28, 2024 | Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment | Source | Introduction: Southeast Asia (SEA) produces 28% of global rice. As flooded rice fields account for nearly half of global crop-relat
TOP