Climate Change Mitigation through Technology Innovations in Agriculture Bettina Hedden-Dunkhorst and Paul Vlek Center for Development Research, University of Bonn

Outline 1Background 2Technology Development in Agriculture 3New Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation 4Adoption Constraints 5Suggestions for Policies and Instruments

Background Agriculture causes about 25 % global anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, 65 % of CH 4, and 90 % of N 2 O emissions. Agriculture causes about 25 % global anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, 65 % of CH 4, and 90 % of N 2 O emissions. GWP: CH 4, – 21times higher than CO 2 ; N 2 O – 310 times higher; GWP: CH 4, – 21times higher than CO 2 ; N 2 O – 310 times higher; Largest source of emissions – transformation of forest to agricultural land Largest source of emissions – transformation of forest to agricultural land But, agriculture is also affected by climate change But, agriculture is also affected by climate change through increased climate variability through increased climate variability (Modest) mitigation options are available that could result in win-win solutions (Modest) mitigation options are available that could result in win-win solutions Productivity increases are necessary to guarantee adoption Productivity increases are necessary to guarantee adoption

Technology Development in Agriculture Research Research Scale: Scale: International (16 IARCs - CGIAR) International (16 IARCs - CGIAR) National (NARS) National (NARS) Local (NGOs, local knowledge) Local (NGOs, local knowledge) Policy directions for research: Policy directions for research: Economic policies Economic policies Trade : export crops Trade : export crops Social policies Social policies Appropriate technologies, low input technologies Appropriate technologies, low input technologies Environmental policies Environmental policies Reduced GHG emissions, anti soil erosion technologies, water saving technologies Reduced GHG emissions, anti soil erosion technologies, water saving technologies

Focus of Research: Focus of Research: still top down still top down but more focus on participatory approaches but more focus on participatory approaches Capacity for Manufacturing or Multiplication of Technology Capacity for Manufacturing or Multiplication of Technology Examples Examples Mulching machine (Eastern Amazon Region) Mulching machine (Eastern Amazon Region) Seed multiplication (Zimbabwe) Seed multiplication (Zimbabwe)

New Agricultural Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation - Rice- Wheat Systems million ha in South and East Asia million ha in South and East Asia Rice – flooded fields; Wheat well-drained soils; Rice – flooded fields; Wheat well-drained soils; Rice: Rice: Emissions: Emissions: methane and nitrous oxide methane and nitrous oxide (carbon dioxide – straw burning) Mitigation strategies: Mitigation strategies: proper management of organic inputs proper management of organic inputs temporary (mid-season) field drainage temporary (mid-season) field drainage direct seeding (-18% CH 4 ) direct seeding (-18% CH 4 )

Wheat Wheat Emissions: nitrous oxide (emitted after fertilization, irrigation and heavy rains or during fallow periods) Emissions: nitrous oxide (emitted after fertilization, irrigation and heavy rains or during fallow periods) Mitigation strategies: Mitigation strategies: Emissions less sensitive to Emissions less sensitive to management practices Problem: Problem: Antagonism between methane and nitrous oxide emissions, hence targeting one gas alone is inappropriate. Antagonism between methane and nitrous oxide emissions, hence targeting one gas alone is inappropriate.

New Agricultural Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation - Pastoral Ecosystems of the Tropics Worldwide grazing land covers ¼ of earth‘s land surface - twice the area under crops Worldwide grazing land covers ¼ of earth‘s land surface - twice the area under crops Savannas: greatest storage capacity for belowground carbon Savannas: greatest storage capacity for belowground carbon Soil carbon losses through: land conversion (pasture – crop land); grazing management Soil carbon losses through: land conversion (pasture – crop land); grazing management Methane emission: derive from grazing animals Methane emission: derive from grazing animals Nitrous oxide emissions (low in developing countries): fertilizer use, land conversion, manure application Nitrous oxide emissions (low in developing countries): fertilizer use, land conversion, manure application

Pastoral lands will lose above and belowground C when they become drier due to climate change. Pastoral lands will lose above and belowground C when they become drier due to climate change. Mitigating strategies - Carbon dioxide Mitigating strategies - Carbon dioxide Improved grazing management (0.5 t C ha -1 ) Reduction in grazing intensity Reduction in grazing intensity and biomass burning Improvement of degraded land Improvement of degraded land Reduction of soil erosion Reduction of soil erosion Changes in species mix to deep-root grasses Changes in species mix to deep-root grasses (Substitution of renewable biological products for fossil fuels – commercial ranches LA) (Substitution of renewable biological products for fossil fuels – commercial ranches LA)

Implementation Requirements Implementation Requirements Policies: Policies: Government regulations, taxes, subsidies Government regulations, taxes, subsidies Incentives for Carbon market development: Incentives for Carbon market development: Strengthen institutional linkages between countries selling/buying Strengthen institutional linkages between countries selling/buying Strengthen pastoral networks of communication Strengthen pastoral networks of communication Information through extension services Information through extension services Functioning and accountable community governance structures Functioning and accountable community governance structures Monitoring systems for carbon stocks Monitoring systems for carbon stocks

New Agricultural Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation - Other Systems Alternatives to Slash and Burn Alternatives to Slash and Burn Managed forests Managed forests Agroforestry Agroforestry Wheat, Maize, Soybean, etc. Wheat, Maize, Soybean, etc. No-tillage (accumulation of soil Carbon, less fossil fuel use) No-tillage (accumulation of soil Carbon, less fossil fuel use) Reduced N fertilization Reduced N fertilization

Adoption Constraints: Farmers Perspective Lack of: Lack of: Information Information Capital Capital Transportation Transportation Incentives (low potential to increased returns) Incentives (low potential to increased returns) Temporary land tenure and water rights Temporary land tenure and water rights Unreliable supplies Unreliable supplies Risk aversion and vulnerability of farmers Risk aversion and vulnerability of farmers

Suggestions for Policies and Instruments Payments for environmental services, environmental services, provide market provide market opportunities opportunities Legal instruments: contract enforcement Media support, free education free education Participation in policy design, policy design, subsidiarity, subsidiarity, decentralisation decentralisation Rural poverty reduction Information and and Education Education Policy coordination and linking by sector and linking by sector (environmental, agricultural) and level and level (national, local) (national, local) Property rights rights PoliciesInstruments

International Level International Level Targetedfunding Enabling environment: patents, technology advice technology advice Generation of data base and dissemination of findings Enabling environment: WTO negotiations, WTO negotiations, labeling labeling (climate change (climate change mitigation) mitigation) Research Information Trade Technologyexchange PoliciesInstruments

On Balance … Agricultural technologies for modest climate change mitigation exist. Agricultural technologies for modest climate change mitigation exist. More needs to be known about their effects and interactions (all GHG) under different conditions. More needs to be known about their effects and interactions (all GHG) under different conditions. Mechanisms to support technology adoption need to be developed. Mechanisms to support technology adoption need to be developed.