Agricultural greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions (11% of U.S. GhGs) are modest compared with those from the electricity (25%), transportation (27%) and industrial (24%) sectors. Nonetheless, agriculture’s contribution to climate change is substantial.[1] We will not be able to achieve our mitigation goals unless agricultural emissions sharply decline. Fortunately, agriculture can be a major part of the climate solution, and in the process improve rural communities, the health of our soil and water, and the lives of those who work on farms and ranches.
Industrial agriculture is a large contributor to GhG emissions around the world, but family farmers have tremendous capacity to not just decrease emissions but to actually sequester carbon dioxide in the soil with climate resilient agricultural practices like organic production, cover crops, rotational grazing, agroforestry and more. These and other innovations mean family farmers and ranchers are leaders at the forefront of climate mitigation.
The promise is huge! Agriculture is the single largest type of land use in the U.S., accounting for 52% of the country’s total landmass. Shifting that land into climate-resilient agriculture offers a tremendous opportunity to impact climate change.