Multimillion-pound research programme to identify low-carbon farming
techniques
The government has today announced the launch of a new £12.6m research
programme designed to develop new techniques for measuring and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector.
According to government figures, agriculture accounts for eight per cent of
the UK's greenhouse gas emissions, including 76 per cent of UK nitrous oxide
emissions and 38 per cent of methane emissions.
However, the figures are calculated using what Defra admits is a simplified
approach based on generic emissions values and national statistics for
livestock numbers and fertiliser use. As such, they fail to take into account
how different farming techniques can help to curb emissions.
For example, some farms are piloting new feeding techniques for livestock
that are thought to reduce methane emissions, while there is also a school of
thought that using fertilisers on certain crops at different times may reduce
nitrous oxide emissions.
In particular, the research will focus on improving emissions data collection
across the sector and better understanding the factors that effect methane and
nitrous oxide emissions.
Farming minister Jim Paice said that the research programme would aim to
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develop a more granular understanding of agriculture's contribution to
greenhouse gas emissions and identify those techniques that are best at cutting
emissions.
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