Agriculture Methane
Cutting methane from agriculture is critical to bending the climate curve
Agriculture is the world’s largest source of anthropogenic, or human caused, methane emissions, accounting for 40% of the global total with the majority stemming from enteric fermentation in livestock, manure management, and rice production. Agricultural methane emissions are tightly tied to growth and development in much of the world and are projected to increase significantly without fast action.
Agriculture methane comes from 3 main sources
The digestive process of about 3.8 billion animals produces enteric methane, accounting for 29% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
Animal manure, when stored in certain conditions, accounts for 3% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
Rice production releases methane, representing 8% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
Sources of Methane Emissions
A large and growing challenge…
- Over 1 billion people globally depend on livestock for their livelihoods and nutrition security.
- Increasing global population, urbanization, and income are expected to increase demand for animal protein.
- Without action, agricultural sector methane emissions could increase by 40% by 2050.
We can take action now
Agricultural practices to reduce methane emissions can be implemented immediately. Existing technologies and practices and future technologies breakthroughs can mitigate emissions from agriculture between 10% and 35% by 2030 through:
- Improvements in animal husbandry, feeding, health, nutrition, and breeding, as well as the use of methane-reducing feed additives.
- Manure management practices such as the use of solid-liquid separators, decreased storage time, storage pond covers, correct use of anaerobic digesters, use of manure additives, and other advanced technologies.
- Improved water management in rice cultivation, direct seeding, using methane-inhibiting additives, composting rice straw, and using alternative hybrid species in rice production.
…but challenges persist
Investments and a regional approach are needed to accelerate the deployment of solutions aimed at reducing methane emissions from agriculture. Barriers include:
- Cost of technologies and practices to mitigate emissions
- Great disparity between farming systems leading to a need for multiple methane mitigation technologies and practices
- Lack of innovative policies to accelerate the reduction of methane emissions from the agriculture sector while supporting rural development and food security
Our work in agriculture methane
CATF works with governments and the livestock industry worldwide to prioritize actions that aim to reduce methane emissions from agriculture. We use a regional approach that supports research and development of new technologies and practices that can be adopted by farmers, leveraging existing finance mechanisms and advocating for new ones. We focus on:
- A regionally tailored approach that recognizes the unique circumstances and opportunities presented by different geographies.
- Government-led capacity building that focuses on implementing long-term solutions that includes developing better data collection and emissions factors, creating innovative policies, and identifying opportunities to accelerate the implementation of technologies, practices, and policies that will help reduce methane emissions from agriculture.
- Engagement with the productive sector to accelerate the uptake of technologies and production practices by farmers.
- Adoption of a system approach that accounts for the impact of practices and technologies on upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, biodiversity, and land use.
- Equity and fairness. The impact on local communities and more vulnerable populations must be accounted for while discussing policies and supporting the use of technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions from agriculture.
