Enhancing cooperation in agricultural greenhouse gas research Structure, Vision and Work plans for Research Groups and Cross-cutting Groups

Concerted Actions Paddy Rice Research Group Croplands Research Group Livestock Research Group Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling Cross-cutting Groups Inventory and Measurement

The Journey So Far Kick-off in Wellington April 2010 Extensive concerted stock take 1 st Group meetings September – November nd Group meetings March 2011 (France) Agreement within and amongst groups on our task A joint scientific publication Stock Take Ambition & Vision Action Plan

The Journey So Far Kick-off in Wellington April 2010 Extensive concerted stock take 1 st Group meetings September – November nd Group meetings March 2011 (France) Agreement within and amongst groups on our task A joint scientific publication

Our Collective Vision Increase agriculture production with lower emissions Feeding the world within the carrying capacity of earth Improve global cooperation in research & technology Accelerate/strengthen knowledge and technology development that would not happen without the Alliance Work with farmers and partners, provide knowledge Develop relevant mitigation options and strengthen productivity and resilience of food systems

Livestock Research Group Harry Clark & Martin Scholten Livestock is key agricultural sector in all regions with GHG emissions arise from animals, manure, and soils Stocktake shows more than 40% of all current research is in livestock; two thirds funded by governments Almost all Alliance members participate Two subgroups: Ruminants (rumen and soils) Non Ruminants (manure)

Livestock Research Group Harry Clark & Martin Scholten Livestock is key agricultural sector in all regions with GHG emissions arise from animals, manure, and soils Stocktake shows more than 40% of all current research is in livestock; two thirds funded by governments Almost all Alliance members participate Two subgroups: Ruminants (rumen and soils) Non Ruminants (manure)

Livestock – Goals & Benefits Stocktake & inventories Info & Tech transfer Capability development Networks & databases Research collaboration Policy support Common understandingConcerted actions

Livestock – Action Plan Near-term actions: (achieved / in progress) Stocktake analysis Best practice guides Technical manuals Collaborative projects Awards / fellowships Targeted networks Technical synthesis reports Medium-term priorities: (planned for 2011/2012) Publish near-term action results Update the Stocktake Identify possibilities for joint research Identify critical factors related to GHG emissions Identify options for measures Operationalize our long-term ambition Wellington Banff Clermont/Versailles Amsterdam

Croplands Group Coordinators USA (Steve Shafer, Alan Franzluebbers) Sub-groups Management and net GHG emissions: France (Guy Richard), USA (Charles Rice) Emission of GHGs in agricultural peatlands and wetlands: Norway (Lillian Oygarden) Models for C and N emissions: France (Sylvain Pellerin) Focus areas Establish scientific teams; develop literature database; standardize protocols; initiate collaborative research

Croplands Group Coordinators USA (Steve Shafer, Alan Franzluebbers) Sub-groups Management and net GHG emissions: France (Guy Richard), USA (Charles Rice) Emission of GHGs in agricultural peatlands and wetlands: Norway (Lillian Oygarden) Models for C and N emissions: France (Sylvain Pellerin) Focus areas Establish scientific teams; develop literature database; standardize protocols; initiate collaborative research

Croplands – Goals & Benefits Benefits Research that predicts Research that supports decision-making Research that explains

Croplands – Goals & Benefits Benefits Reduced GHG emission intensity from croplands while sustaining or increasing yields, through widely available decision-support tools Key near- and medium-term outcomes Action plan to guide projects; assessment of GHG emissions from different management systems; predictive capability of GHG emissions and soil carbon sequestration Critical success factors Broad participation by scientists in member countries, including academic, private-sector, and other non-government partners

Croplands – Goals & Benefits Benefits Reduced GHG emission intensity from croplands while sustaining or increasing yields, through widely available decision-support tools Key near- and medium-term outcomes Action plan to guide projects; assessment of GHG emissions from different management systems; predictive capability of GHG emissions and soil carbon sequestration Critical success factors Broad participation by scientists in member countries, including academic, private-sector, and other non-government partners

Croplands – Action Plan Near-term actions Establish working relationships among scientists Longer term actions Evaluate success of different management practices to reduce GHG emissions across ecological conditions Achievements to date Scientific commitment, literature database, inventory of scientific activities across countries Support arrangements Global Research Alliance Borlaug fellowships (USA)

Paddy Rice Group Rice is staple food for > 2 billion people Paddy rice cultivation systems have different GHG emissions than other cropping systems 18 countries are members of the paddy rice group Coordinated by Japan and Uruguay Stocktake shows currently 64 research projects underway in 16 different countries − Two major topics: GHG accounting/LCA and agronomy − Two primary outcomes: mitigation and inventory

Paddy Rice Group Rice is staple food for > 2 billion people Paddy rice cultivation systems have different GHG emissions than other cropping systems 18 countries are members of the paddy rice group Coordinated by Japan and Uruguay Stocktake shows currently 64 research projects underway in 16 different countries − Two major topics: GHG accounting/LCA and agronomy − Two primary outcomes: mitigation and inventory

Paddy Rice Group Rice is staple food for > 2 billion people Paddy rice cultivation systems have different GHG emissions than other cropping systems 18 countries are members of the paddy rice group Coordinated by Japan and Uruguay Stocktake shows currently 64 research projects underway in 16 different countries − Two major topics: GHG accounting/LCA and agronomy − Two primary outcomes: mitigation and inventory Paddy Rice Group

Paddy Rice – Goals & Benefits Primary goal is limiting emissions of methane (CH 4 ), but trade-offs with nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and soil carbon will need to be considered Consideration of links between mitigation, productivity and adaptation: optimize relationship between CH 4, productivity and water use Standardization of measurement techniques: - Survey to understand gaps in current methodology - Indicates potential to establish standard method for developing national inventories and mitigation options

Primary goal is limiting emissions of methane (CH 4 ), but trade-offs with nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and soil carbon will need to be considered Consideration of links between mitigation, productivity and adaptation: optimize relationship between CH 4, productivity and water use Standardization of measurement techniques: - Survey to understand gaps in current methodology - Indicates potential to establish standard method for developing national inventories and mitigation options Paddy Rice – Goals & Benefits

Paddy rice – Action plan Immediate Standardize measurement techniques through identification of “good practice” and knowledge / capability gaps Develop database of relevant publications and experts at the Global Research Alliance website Increase country participation and partnerships with relevant non-government research organisations and initiatives Longer Term Pilot multi-site/multi-country experiment focused on mitigation options, using standardized experimental protocol

Paddy rice – Action plan Immediate Standardize measurement techniques through identification of “good practice” and knowledge / capability gaps Develop database of relevant publications and experts at the Global Research Alliance website Increase country participation and partnerships with relevant non-government research organisations and initiatives Longer Term Pilot multi-site/multi-country experiment focused on mitigation options, using standardized experimental protocol

Inventories and Measurement Cross-Cutting Group (CANADA / NETHERLANDS ) Concentrate on addressing issues that affect and benefit more than one Research Group Complement and support the Research Groups Further consistent methodological approaches Information, knowledge, and data sharing Inventory methods, common priorities for collaboration Improve quantification of emissions and mitigation actions Workshop, late 2011 in Canada (proposed) Guidelines for measurements Improve comparability, coherence, quality, verifiability

Soil Carbon-Nitrogen Cycles Cross-Cutting Group (FRANCE / AUSTRALIA ) Improved methodologies and models for mitigation Define common objectives across Research Groups Build a common modelling platform from multiple models Build collective expertise on applicability of models, uncertainty and range of mitigation options Workshops and activities to advance these goals: First workshop (Orléans, March 3, 2011): stock-take of C-N models and datasets Second workshop (Leuven, July 2011): model-data intercomparison, including hands-on training

The way forward Expected key achievements over next 12 months Finalize action plans Publish outcomes from near-term actions Use stock-take to further refine actions of greatest benefit Establish new collaborative research projects Link with regional science and industry partners and existing research and extension programmes Build capability & capacity  Fellowships: Borlaug (US), LEARN (NZ), GRASS (NZ)

The way forward Livestock Research Group: Amsterdam, The Netherlands 5-6 November th Int. Symposium on Non-CO 2 Greenhouse Gases Croplands Research Group: San Antonio, TX, USA 20 October 2011 Annual Soil Science Society Int. Meetings Soil C/N Cycling Cross-Cutting Group: Leuven, Belgium July 2011 Int. Symposium on Soil Organic Matter Paddy Rice Research Group: Tsukuba, Japan 18 November 2011 Inventory and Measurement Cross-Cutting Group: Mid-November 2011 Canada (proposed)