GLOBAL DECARBONISATION
Agriculture and food systems account for about onethird of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization( FAO). Global agrifood systems emissions reached 16.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent( Gt CO2eq) in 2022 – up 10 % from 2000.
This encompasses everything from crop and livestock production to land use change, food processing, transportation and waste.
Within this, livestock and fisheries directly account for about 30 % of foodrelated GHG emissions, crop production for one-quarter and supply chains – including processing, packaging and distribution – 18 %.
Addressing this emissions footprint is critical – left unchecked, food system emissions alone would push the world beyond the 2 ° C global warming threshold, even if fossil fuel emissions ceased tomorrow.
To meet global climate targets, decarbonisation of agriculture and food systems must be multifaceted, integrating regenerative farming, renewable energy, smarter supply chains, consumer action, advanced technology, progressive land management and resilient strategies for climate adaptation.
What is regenerative agriculture? Regenerative agriculture is at the forefront of climate-smart farming, emphasising soil health, biodiversity and natural carbon sequestration.
Unlike conventional agriculture, which often depletes soil and disrupts natural processes, regenerative agriculture enhances soil health, increases biodiversity and sequesters carbon. Regenerative practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, crop rotations, composting and agroforestry enhance soil organic matter, turning agricultural soils into significant carbon sinks.
118 September 2025