Climate Change Study Says Biotech Helps Achieve Nitrogen Fertilizer Management

A new climate change study finds that annual carbon emissions from global agriculture can be reduced by more than half by 2030 if strategies such as reduced global beef consumption, less food waste, and better farm nutrient management and production will be followed. The study, Mitigating Climate Change in Agriculture, was released by two consulting firms in the United States, Climate Focus and California Environmental Associates.

The study's supply-side strategies include sustainable intensification and improving nitrogen fertilizer management and production. A number of technologies and tools to improve nitrogen use efficiency were mentioned, including plant breeding and genetic modification. According to the study, genetic modification will increase crop uptake of nitrogen, and that less fertilizer will be needed to produce the same crop yields. The strategies stated in the study are expected to mitigate climate change while maintaining food security and building resilience.

For more details about the study, read the executive summary at: http://www.climateandlandusealliance.org/en/introduction/. The full report is available for download at: http://www.climateandlandusealliance.org/uploads/PDFs/Abridged-Full-Report-Strategies-For-Migrating-Climate-Change-In-Agriculture.pdf.