Last updated: 21 Oct 2024 | 24 Views |
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN FOOD PRODUCTION
Convenient food is produced in huge quantities at very low prices. At the same time, we are causing harm to the health of planet’s population and destroying the environment. Can the food system be altered to draw carbon from the atmosphere instead of accumulating it by the adoption of regenerative land and smart farming practices?
Regenerative practices can help the environment. By adoption of regenerative and smart farming practices, such as the use of cover crops, no tilling, crop rotation and smarter (reduced) use of fertilizers and their replacements such as livestock manure and composted organic materials.
Regenerative practices help rebuild soil health, withdrawing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil, restore the health of waterways and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and, consequently, the release of huge quantities of N2O into the atmosphere and polluting waters with excess nitrogen.
One of the regenerative methods is to return the nutrients back by using livestock manure to fertilize the fields. Unfortunately, livestock urine and manure are significant sources of greenhouse gases methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) when broken down under anaerobic conditions.
The improper management of livestock manure not only wastes resources but also leads to agricultural non-point pollution due to the rich organic content and high levels of nutrients.
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