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Reducing Carbon Footprint of Agriculture—Can Organic Farming Help to Mitigate Climate Change?

Author

Listed:
  • Małgorzata Holka

    (Department of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland)

  • Jolanta Kowalska

    (Department of Organic Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland)

  • Magdalena Jakubowska

    (Department of Monitoring and Signalling of Agrophages, Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Władysława Węgorka 20, 60-318 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

In the face of a changing climate, intensive efforts are needed for limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 °C. Agricultural production has the potential to play an important role in mitigating climate change. It is necessary to optimize all of the agricultural practices that have high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among the plant production processes, mineral fertilization is of the greatest importance in the formation of the carbon footprint (CF) of crops. There are many possibilities for reducing GHG emissions from the application of fertilizers. Further benefits in reducing the CF can be obtained through combining tillage treatments, reduced and no-till technologies, and the cultivation of catch crops and leguminous plants. Organic farming has the potential for reducing GHG emissions and improving organic carbon sequestration. This system eliminates synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and thus could lower global agricultural GHG emissions. Organic farming could result in a higher soil organic carbon content compared to non-organic systems. When used together with other environmentally friendly farming practices, significant reductions of GHG emissions can be achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Małgorzata Holka & Jolanta Kowalska & Magdalena Jakubowska, 2022. "Reducing Carbon Footprint of Agriculture—Can Organic Farming Help to Mitigate Climate Change?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:9:p:1383-:d:905970
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    4. Jeremiás Máté Balogh, 2023. "The impacts of agricultural subsidies of Common Agricultural Policy on agricultural emissions: The case of the European Union," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 69(4), pages 140-150.
    5. Pătărlăgeanu Simona Roxana & Constantin Marius & Dinu Mihai & Petrescu Irina Elena & Deaconu Elena Mădălina, 2024. "Farm Carbon Footprint Measurement Frameworks Based on the Digitization and Environmental Sustainability Paradigm," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 1602-1612.
    6. Xiaoyan Sun & Shuya Guang & Jingjing Cao & Fengying Zhu & Jianxu Liu & Songsak Sriboonchitta, 2023. "Effect of Agricultural Production Trusteeship on Agricultural Carbon Emission Reduction," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Clayton Pereira de Sá & Regina Negri Pagani & André Luiz Przybysz & Fabiane Florencio de Souza & David Nunes Resende & João Luiz Kovaleski, 2025. "Towards the Concept of Smart Municipality: Agribusiness Model Integrating Rural and Urban Areas for Organic Food Production: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-26, January.
    8. Shulong Li & Zhizhang Wang, 2023. "The Effects of Agricultural Technology Progress on Agricultural Carbon Emission and Carbon Sink in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Xiaogeng Niu & Meiyu Liu & Zhenxing Tian & Anguo Chen, 2022. "Research on the Impact of Agricultural Financial Support on Agricultural Carbon Compensation Rate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Jörg Gerke, 2025. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Arable Land and Grassland: The Case for Organic Farming—A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, February.
    11. Mosadegh Sedghy, B. & Nematollahi, Mohammadreza & Tajbakhsh, Alireza, 2024. "Market dynamics between retail channels and short food supply chains: A case of organic fruits," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    12. Monica Laura Zlati & Costinela Fortea & Valentin Marian Antohi, 2024. "The Economic Value of European Organic Farming in the Transition to Climate Neutrality," Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Studies, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Doctoral Field Engineering and Management in Agriculture and Rural Development, issue 1, pages 63-75.
    13. Lilia Șargu & Gabriela Ignat & Angela Timuș & Ioan Prigoreanu & Nicu Șargu, 2025. "Economic and Energy Assessment of Emissions from European Agriculture: A Comparative Analysis of Regional Sustainability and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-24, March.
    14. Andrés Villarruel-Jaramillo & Josué F. Rosales-Pérez & Manuel Pérez-García & José M. Cardemil & Rodrigo Escobar, 2023. "Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Solar Cooling Systems Driven by Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Collectors—Case Study: Greenhouses of Andalusia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-28, June.

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