Side Event COP 14Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Agriculture

Poznan, Wednesday 3 December 2008

Fox Room 13:00 – 15:00.

Agenda1. Welcome and Introduction by Peter Holmgren

2. Mitigation practices from Agriculture by Jorgen Olesen

3. Mitigation practices for small farmers in Latin America by Mohammad Ibrahim

4. Mitigation options and Peyments for ecosystem Services for rural communities in Africa by Brent Swallow

5. Concluding remarks by Rahman Atiqur 6. Open discussion

Agriculture is a key sector for mitigation

Farmers are at the centre: • they are the primary managers of the natural

resources that are fundamental for the structure and function of agricultural systems (soil, water, plant and animal genetic resources, vegetation cover);

• they are the primary managers of agricultural practices and technologies that contribute to:

• mitigation• adaptation and food security• sustainable intensification

Agriculture is a key sector for mitigation

Agricultural area occupies 38% of total land area (4 967 million ha). Of this 31% is arable land, permanent crops, 69% is permanent pastures & meadows

The Challenge

1. We need to ACT NOW (development of policies to reduce GHG emissions and to sustain food security and rural development)

2. But we would need to WAIT until we have more information,research and inventories (location specific and focussed on developing countries)

To act now Policy development should focus on:

• Mainstreaming mitigation for agriculture sector

• Building regulations for reducing GHG emissions from intensive monoculture

• Developing schemes for promoting small farmers sustainable agricultural practices

• Mobilizing funds • Building partnership

To wait until we have results of research and inventories on:

• efficient farm level monitoring systems of agricultural practices in developed and developing countries that are site specific

• full understanding of mechanisms regulating GHG mechanisms in soils, plants, and agricultural systems

• new technologies and management practices

developed and tested that use less fossil energy

Some win-win practices for mitigation in agriculture

• better control of bushfires and crop residues; • improving nutrition for ruminant livestock and more

efficient management of livestock waste;• improved management of pastures and meadows;• rehabilitation of degraded grasslands; • agro-forestry systems; • organic agriculture; • crop rotations and use of legumes;• conservation agriculture; • wise fertilizers management ;• appropriate water management and harvesting

techniques;

Some questions related to mitigation from agriculture to be applied to both developed and developing countries

• Should we promote a low energy agriculture (and less fertilizers)?

• Should we consider different consumption habits (become vegetarians)?

• Should we revert more to permanent grasslands and forestry?

• Should we intensify agriculture to reduce deforestation?

• Should we promote localised food systems?

Presentation by Prof. J. Olesen• Example of mitigation practices from Agricultural

sector at farm level

• Incentives currently considered

• European policies under development for Europen farmers

• European policies relevant for developing countries and small farmers in poor countries

Presentation by Dr. B. Swallow• Example of mitigation practices from Agricultural sector

at farm level in Africa

• On-going projects

• PES

• African policies related to mitigation

• Needs and challenges for small farmers and poor rural communities in Africa

Presentation by Dr. M. Ibrahim• Example of mitigation practices from Livestock

sector at farm level in Latin America

• Examples from projects

• Latin American policies related to mitigation

• Needs and challenges for small farmers and poor rural communities in Latin America

Concluding remarks

IFAD work on mitigation focuses on

FAO work on mitigation focuses on• Promoting information and knowledge re management

practices for mitigation especially for developing countries.

• From global to local actions: promote networking and field projects; farmers’ learning and accounting of agriculture management practices for mitigation and adaptation to c.c.

• Ways to enhance small farmers’ effectiveness of incorporating mitigation actions into their agricultural systems while contributing to food security and sustainable ecosystem management.

• Partnership with UN, CGIAR, and National Universities and research Centres, to advocate for targeting agriculture and grasslands in Post Kyoto negotiations incl. development of financing and technology transfer mechanisms.

Possible recommendations for the open discussion

Draft for Discussion 24 Nov. 12:30-13:30 Nigeria Room (C 215)

• A set of recommendations/views related to promoting mitigation potential of agricultural sector of poor countries and poor communities, with access to resources as well as promoting sustainable cultivation and land preservation practices, for possible consideration in the post-2012 negotiation process.

Mitigation from agriculture requires a combination of:

1. Policy actions

2. Financial measures

3. Technical solutions

4. Regulatory processes

5. Creation of information networks

1. Policy actions global:

• The full spectrum of terrestrial carbon related to agriculture must be recognised, credited, and accorded equal treatment with all other emission reductions

• Measures to sustain food production must be re-examinated and modified to sustain food security and rural development

• Small farmers livelihood and agricultural practices must become central for national and global environmental and economic policies to:

• promote sustainable use of natural resources and transition to low C grow

• stimulate new job opportunities and local business

1. Policy actions national:

• Develop national policies to improve Integration with mitigation practices in ag.e for rural development

• Develop regulations for large scale agriculture

• Develop market incentives for small farmers

2. Financial Measures:

• Global and local measures• Regulations of wrong practices• Taxes• PES• Promotion of a new type of agriculture• Role of public and private sector

3. Technical solutions:

• promotion of new scientifc priorities for agriculture (mitigation and adaptation as criteria for breeding and development of management practices for crop, meat, fiber, and energy production)

• adoption of energy saving and food security criteria • scaling up of technologies developed and adopted by

community based activites• improve resilience capacity of small farmers in poor

countries to reduce sensitivity to climate change• support local, innovative, private mitigation

technologies •

4. Regulatory process:

• Ensure private and publica resources have common rules, regulations, objectives

25. Creation of information networks:

• Increase mechanisms for sharing of knowledge between farmers and scientists