Combining reference trials, farm surveys and mathematical models to assess carbon footprint and mitigation measures in tropical agriculture

Rodrigo A. Morales A.; Percy Zorogastúa C.; Diana Feliciano; Felipe de Mendiburu D.; Roberto Quiroz

doi:10.1016/j.aoas.2019.12.002

Combining reference trials, farm surveys and mathematical models to assess carbon footprint and mitigation measures in tropical agriculture

Rodrigo A. Morales A.^*, Percy Zorogastúa C., Diana Feliciano, Felipe de Mendiburu D., Roberto Quiroz

^*Corresponding author for this work

Aberdeen Centre For Environmental Sustainability

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study aimed at estimating carbon footprint (CF) and assessing mitigation options for selected tropical crops using excel-based models, parameterized with data collected through closed-ended questions questionnaires, combined with a reference trial (RT). Most of the estimates using structured interviews were similar to those measured in the RT and the literature. Total average emission intensities ranged from 24 to 290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1, where the extreme values corresponded to cassava in the RT (24 kg CO2eq·Mg−1) and maize in interviewed farmers in Barranca province (290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1). Overall, fertilizer production and application contributed to 77% of total greenhouse gas (GHG). Transportation generated emissions comparable to field estimates. Farm emissions can be reduced in 17 to 27% with incorporation of mitigation practices. The methodology used in this study constitute a useful and easily applicable tool to assess ex-ante the impact of policies and decisions on CF under farm conditions. It can also be used by different stakeholders for different purposes; including but not limited to: label products offered in the market with GHG emission estimates, make decisions to regulate the emissions in the agricultural sector, and to enable farmers to negotiate prices and incentives for environmental preservation with quantitative information.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	188-195
Number of pages	8
Journal	Annals of Agricultural Sciences
Volume	64
Issue number	2
Early online date	19 Dec 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2019.12.002
Publication status	Published - Dec 2019

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the CGIAR Fund donors for funding this research. For a list of CGIAR Fund donors please see: http://www.cgiar.org/whowe-are/cgiar-fund/fund-donors-2/. The senior author also acknowledges the support from the National Secretariat of Science and Technology of Panama (SENACYT, Professional Excellence subprogram) and the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP).

Keywords

Peru
Emissions
Maize
Sweet potato
Cassava
Fertilizers

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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abstract = "This study aimed at estimating carbon footprint (CF) and assessing mitigation options for selected tropical crops using excel-based models, parameterized with data collected through closed-ended questions questionnaires, combined with a reference trial (RT). Most of the estimates using structured interviews were similar to those measured in the RT and the literature. Total average emission intensities ranged from 24 to 290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1, where the extreme values corresponded to cassava in the RT (24 kg CO2eq·Mg−1) and maize in interviewed farmers in Barranca province (290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1). Overall, fertilizer production and application contributed to 77% of total greenhouse gas (GHG). Transportation generated emissions comparable to field estimates. Farm emissions can be reduced in 17 to 27% with incorporation of mitigation practices. The methodology used in this study constitute a useful and easily applicable tool to assess ex-ante the impact of policies and decisions on CF under farm conditions. It can also be used by different stakeholders for different purposes; including but not limited to: label products offered in the market with GHG emission estimates, make decisions to regulate the emissions in the agricultural sector, and to enable farmers to negotiate prices and incentives for environmental preservation with quantitative information.",

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note = "Acknowledgements We would like to thank the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the CGIAR Fund donors for funding this research. For a list of CGIAR Fund donors please see: http://www.cgiar.org/whowe-are/cgiar-fund/fund-donors-2/. The senior author also acknowledges the support from the National Secretariat of Science and Technology of Panama (SENACYT, Professional Excellence subprogram) and the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP).",

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AU - de Mendiburu D., Felipe

AU - Quiroz, Roberto

N1 - Acknowledgements We would like to thank the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the CGIAR Fund donors for funding this research. For a list of CGIAR Fund donors please see: http://www.cgiar.org/whowe-are/cgiar-fund/fund-donors-2/. The senior author also acknowledges the support from the National Secretariat of Science and Technology of Panama (SENACYT, Professional Excellence subprogram) and the Agricultural Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP).

PY - 2019/12

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N2 - This study aimed at estimating carbon footprint (CF) and assessing mitigation options for selected tropical crops using excel-based models, parameterized with data collected through closed-ended questions questionnaires, combined with a reference trial (RT). Most of the estimates using structured interviews were similar to those measured in the RT and the literature. Total average emission intensities ranged from 24 to 290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1, where the extreme values corresponded to cassava in the RT (24 kg CO2eq·Mg−1) and maize in interviewed farmers in Barranca province (290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1). Overall, fertilizer production and application contributed to 77% of total greenhouse gas (GHG). Transportation generated emissions comparable to field estimates. Farm emissions can be reduced in 17 to 27% with incorporation of mitigation practices. The methodology used in this study constitute a useful and easily applicable tool to assess ex-ante the impact of policies and decisions on CF under farm conditions. It can also be used by different stakeholders for different purposes; including but not limited to: label products offered in the market with GHG emission estimates, make decisions to regulate the emissions in the agricultural sector, and to enable farmers to negotiate prices and incentives for environmental preservation with quantitative information.

AB - This study aimed at estimating carbon footprint (CF) and assessing mitigation options for selected tropical crops using excel-based models, parameterized with data collected through closed-ended questions questionnaires, combined with a reference trial (RT). Most of the estimates using structured interviews were similar to those measured in the RT and the literature. Total average emission intensities ranged from 24 to 290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1, where the extreme values corresponded to cassava in the RT (24 kg CO2eq·Mg−1) and maize in interviewed farmers in Barranca province (290 kg CO2eq·Mg−1). Overall, fertilizer production and application contributed to 77% of total greenhouse gas (GHG). Transportation generated emissions comparable to field estimates. Farm emissions can be reduced in 17 to 27% with incorporation of mitigation practices. The methodology used in this study constitute a useful and easily applicable tool to assess ex-ante the impact of policies and decisions on CF under farm conditions. It can also be used by different stakeholders for different purposes; including but not limited to: label products offered in the market with GHG emission estimates, make decisions to regulate the emissions in the agricultural sector, and to enable farmers to negotiate prices and incentives for environmental preservation with quantitative information.

KW - Peru

KW - Emissions

KW - Maize

KW - Sweet potato

KW - Cassava

KW - Fertilizers

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DO - 10.1016/j.aoas.2019.12.002

M3 - Article

SN - 0570-1783

VL - 64

SP - 188

EP - 195

JO - Annals of Agricultural Sciences

JF - Annals of Agricultural Sciences

IS - 2

ER -

Combining reference trials, farm surveys and mathematical models to assess carbon footprint and mitigation measures in tropical agriculture

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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