Swedish agriculture can without costs save more greenhouse gases than the emissions of the air traffic

September 28, 2008 by greengard

Let us consider Swedish agriculture, 2.5 million hectares. With better use of existing knowledge, methods and technology the following could be achieved without increase in costs or reduced production:

Improved adaption of nitrogen use (annual adaptation and precision farming) could reduce greenhouse gases  by 0.3 million tons carbon dioxide equivalents (GHG)

Improved soil carbon management can contribute 0.9 million tons GHG at least for a few decades.

The figures are per year.

Some comparisons:

Swedish air traffic emits 0.7 million tons GHG, and is much discussed.

If the road traffic could reduce fuel consumtion by 10 % (keeping speed limits, better driving) 2 million tons GHG are saved.

 

Agriculture can not solve the climate problem, but can contribute more than is commonly realized. And in addition there is the bioenergy production.