Farming: the difficult first step towards net zero

Synopsis

Food and farming contribute approximately 25% of global carbon emissions, with projections indicating a rise due to a growing population. Measuring emissions in agriculture presents significant challenges, particularly as over a quarter of the world's workforce is engaged in small-scale farming. Dairy farming alone generates greenhouse gas emissions comparable to those of the entire United States. Rabobank, an agricultural cooperative bank, participates in the UN's net zero banking alliance and reports on financed emissions, highlighting the complexities of estimating emissions from Dutch dairy farms. Improved measurement techniques are essential for effective emissions management in agriculture.