The agricultural sector has faced increasing pressure to decarbonise in recent years following recognition that unsustainable approaches to farming are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. We explore the innovations decarbonising the sector.
Figures related to agricultural emissions vary but, at present, it is estimated that global agriculture is responsible for around 12- 25 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions with further climate damaging practices, including deforestation and inefficient land use, being linked to food supply. Climate-smart agriculture is essential not just for decarbonisation, but to secure global food supplies and ensure that the 8.9 per cent of the global population who are experiencing food shortages are able to be fed sustainably.
Agriculture consumes 70 per cent of the world’s fresh water; an exceedingly unsustainable quantity. Controlling the amount of fresh water used to water crops and reserving supplies for more pressing conditions is a key development greening agriculture.
AI uses satellite imagery, temperature, humidity, and weather predictions to build automation control for water systems in agriculture, giving farmers the necessary tools to optimise their water management. The AI works by generating estimates of rainfall and evapotranspiration (a key water cycle for plants) which can then be used to choose the most appropriate times to water crops. What’s more, AI can be used to analyse soils for water content and nutrients, alerting farmers when fertiliser or water might be needed to boost crop growth, and to recommend when and where certain seeds should be planted.
The SeeTree drone is an example of an AI platform used to deliver information to tree growers about the health, distribution, and productivity of their trees.
Architects and developers have turned to stackable urban farms (SUFs) as a solution to the limited allotment and harvesting spaces within cities.
Cultivating fresh vegetables from skyscrapers is an innovative new way of combatting fresh food shortages in inner-cities and reducing reliance on imports from further afield. Companies like Sky Greens are developing vertical inner-city farming structures to tackle agricultural issues associated with traditional farming, such as high water and land use, drought vulnerability, pests, overuse of chemical fertilisers, soil pollution and weather-reliant farming.
SUFs partner effectively with green technologies to maximise their efficiency. For example, many SUFs use LEDs to provide necessary light at each level and solar power to heat the zones with more demanding crops. Sky gardens have also been linked to social benefits as they improve access to green spaces, biodiversity and nature within urban areas.
Global warming is a key factor reducing crop resilience today. At current rates of warming, compared to the year 2000, summer and winter temperatures across Europe will increase by 3.5C and 4.7C respectively by 2050. This shift will impact the rates of pathogen infection that threatens plants.
In response to this, scientists are developing new crop varieties able to generate higher yields and maintain resilience to abiotic stresses brought on by climate change. Genetically modified crops will have greater resilience to droughts, diseases, temperature changes and soil salinity. Gene engineering will also improve the ability of crops to withstand invasive plants such as weeds. It is estimated that, in India, weeds reduce crop yields by as much as 31.5 per cent, so developing crops able to withstand the presence of weeds is important for securing reliable food supplies.
Livestock is a significant contributor to climate change due to the amount of land it requires and the extent of methane livestock produce. Pressure on food supply is also set to increase as global populations rise, with global demand for animal-derived protein expected to almost double by 2050.
Israeli molecular food startup PoLoPo is developing animal proteins using potatoes to bypass the climate impacts of livestock farming. The company has developed technology capable of producing egg protein, called ovalbumin, in potatoes. The hope is that this technology will service the global demand for protein and reduce reliance of land-intensive and emissions-heavy forms of farming.
This type of innovation signposts the power and potential of plant-based protein developments which could ease reliance on land-intensive and methane-heavy animal proteins. While innovations across the agricultural sector continue to develop, introducing us to fascinating stories, the core focus of these innovations remains clear: reduce land use, reduce emissions, and secure food supply for a global population.
