Reuters – A global push to cut methane emissions and end deforestation is at risk of being held back by weak corporate efforts in the livestock industry, an investor group said. More than 100 countries pledged to cut methane emissions 30 per cent and halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 at last month’s COP26 climate […] Read more
Tag Archives climate change — page 9
Investor group warns livestock industry needs to do more on methane
FAIRR Initiative report could influence how, and where, members invest
Climate anxieties shape consumer demands
Agriculture and food sector faces “new reality,” according to food marketing firm Nourish
Failure to act on the climate and personal health anxieties of Canadians could be a “brand breaker” for businesses in the farm and food sector, according to the 2022 consumer trend report from Nourish Food Marketing. Its authors argue that the coming year will see competing generational perspectives and shifting preferences in a post-pandemic reality. […] Read more
Debating carbon decrease priorities
There’s debate among agriculture organizations on how to measure the sector’s contributions
Should agriculture’s decreases in carbon emissions be based on intensity of use per unit of food, or measured in the total volume of reductions? That’s the crux of a philosophical discussion happening in agriculture and showcased by competing reports on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Why it matters: How farmers are required […] Read more
Farmers say COP26 targets can be met
Summit delegates were told that governments must make sure producers receive the support they need to help reduce climate change impact
Glacier FarmMedia – The United Nations says significant progress was made at COP26 as countries agreed to reduce the impact of climate change on agriculture and lower the sector’s contributions. However, the Glasgow climate change conference was also criticized for not emphasizing agriculture enough. For example, agricultural discussions were included in nature and land use […] Read more
As the world turns, corn drops down
It’s already underway — climate change could result in declining corn yields globally while wheat rises
Glacier FarmMedia – Climate change is going to have profoundly different impacts on two of the world’s most widely grown cereal crops, according to new research. Global corn yields are projected to decline by 24 per cent by the end of the century, while wheat yields are forecast to grow by 17 per cent over […] Read more
Comment: A global methane pledge is great – but only if it doesn’t distract us from CO2 cuts
Climate change: The atmospheric life of methane and CO2 are dramatically different, but we aren’t in an either/or situation
Leading an alliance of more than 100 countries, U.S. President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have launched the Global Methane Pledge – an agreement to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent between 2020 and 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has caused about 0.5 C of global warming, according to […] Read more
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Science Notes: New study is engineering crops to be more productive by improving photosynthesis
New research from the University of Illinois indicates crops that experience and survive drought conditions or extreme temperatures in early stages of growth are better able to deal with those same conditions later in their growth cycle. This ‘memory,’ or adaptation by the plant, could help reduce yield loss that year and help researchers prevent future […] Read more
Lowering livestock methane through heritable microbes
Breeding programs based on microbial DNA could help meet climate targets faster
Methane-reducing feed ingredients and emissions-focused breeding programs have the potential to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by livestock. For the latter, however, new research from Scotland’s Rural College highlights opportunities for breeders to focus on the DNA of an animal’s gut bacteria, not just DNA and methane production levels of the animal […] Read more
Comment: Agriculture, climate change shouldn’t be exclusive
Food and airline travel should not be equally compared when it comes to climate change, says the writer
Any time food and farming are spoken of with distain or blamed for something, farmers take it personally. It’s an attack not necessarily on the product grown, but on our character. It’s why I believe it’s hard for many in agriculture and food to digest the latest news, media reports and research that discusses agriculture […] Read more
Weeds may compound effects of climate change impact
Study says corn yields are expected to be reduced as weeds compete for fewer water resources in the American Midwest
Glacier FarmMedia – A U.S. study has found that weeds will likely deepen the negative impact of climate change on corn yields, says a scientist. Such results likely extend to other crops, said Marty Williams, an ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “I think what this tells farmers is that going forward, more than […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
