summary of mitigation

In the last few posts I have discussed various mitigation strategies that have been put forward aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources.  

A key theme I noticed throughout looking at these articles was economic factors.  In many places around the world, especially in developing nations, it will be very difficult to implement a number of these strategies due to the economic cost.  Consequently, it would be beneficial to attempt as many as possible in countries that can afford to have the schemes, as this would reduce a proportion of emissions.  However, populations in the developing world are growing quickly and are projected to hold the majority of future growth.  This will mean a greater demand for food.  Many developing countries provide cultivated products that other places in the world rely on, such as rice.  Therefore it will be necessary to reduce emissions from these countries, but it will likely require subsiding and the provision of economic incentives for them to be adopted.  

Personally, the strategies I would consider best to implement would be those incorporating more organic methods.  These not only help with the reduction of fossil fuel burning and greenhouse gas emissions but they also improve food security around the world by improving soil quality to its former states.  To name a few of these practices would be,  no-till, crop rotations and cover crops.  I believe that draining rice paddy fields in the non growing is also a feasible and beneficial strategy, as it does nothing to the yield and lowers methane emissions.  Also better use of fertilisers is very important as this will reduce nitrous oxide emissions, reduce fossil fuel burning and avoid soil degradation.  Planting trees, or returning to native habitat on marginal croplands is also very beneficial, as it reduces emissions with very little impact.  All these strategies are less economically intense than some making them easier to implement.  

It is important when considering mitigation strategies that the yield is not changed.  This will make strategies more unpopular as they will be an economic cost to farmers and it will be uncertain if enough food can be produced for the population at the current price.  it is also important that the quality of produce is not affected by strategies as it will put people off buying it.  

Using mitigation strategies is necessary to reduce greenhouse emissions from agriculture as they do contribute to a large proportion of anthropogenic atmospheric inputs.  However it will be a lengthy process requiring management, ample research and high financial investment.