Climate Change and agriCulture - perspectives from china and Germany - Sino-German Agricultural Centre
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With support from
by decision of the
German Bundestag
Climate change
and Agriculture
perspectives from
China and Germany
With contributions from:
B. Amon, H. Dong, P. Günther,
B. Li, Y. Li, S. Lüttringhaus, D. Müller,
S. Wei, B. Wang, W. Xu, Y. Yan, Z. Zhu
Publisher: Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ)
1
Climate
change and
Agriculture
perspectives
from China
and Germany
Implemented by In partnership with
PUBLISHER:
Disclaimer Sino-German Agricultural
This study is published under the responsibility of the Sino-German Centre (DCZ)
Agricultural Centre’s subproject on climate change (Project No. CHN 19-02),
WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM:
which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
Barbara Amon, Hongmin Dong,
All views and results, conclusions, proposals or recommendations stated therein are the Peggy Günther, Bo Li, Yu’e Li,
property of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the BMEL. Sophia Lüttringhaus, Daniel Müller,
© 2020 Sino-German Agricultural Centre Sha Wei, Bin Wang, Wenzheng Xu,
All rights reserved. Yan Yan, Zhiping Zhu
2 3
Index
Peggy Günther
Preface................................................................................................................... 6
Chapter 1: Climate Policies in China and Germany
Bo Li, Wenzheng Xu, Yan Yan, Hongmin Dong, Yu’e Li
Germany’s Mitigation Policies and Measures of Climate
Change in Agriculture and Its Inspiration to China ..................12
Yu’e Li, Bin Wang
Mitigation Policies, Measures, and Recommendations
for the Agricultural Sector of China................................................... 34
Chapter 2: Livestock Production
Barbara Amon
Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Livestock Production:
Relevance and Options for Improvement......................................... 54
Sha Wei, Hongmin Dong, Zhiping Zhu
How to Make Use of Livestock Manure?
Standard Discharge or Land Application Use .............................. 78
Chapter 3: Crop Production
Sophia Lüttringhaus
Climate Change Impacts on Crop Production
Published by in Europe and Opportunities for Adaptation
and Mitigation by Plant Breeding........................................................ 90
Chapter 4: Current global developments and their
impact on greenhouse gas emissions from Agriculture
Daniel Müller
Effects of the Sino-American Trade War
and African Swine Fever for Greenhouse
Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) Gas Emissions in Pork Production..................................................... 114
55 Nongzhan Beilu, Chaoyang District
100125 Beijing, China Imprint...............................................................................................................136
4 5
Preface
by Peggy Günther (project coordinator)
For example, anthropogenic climate change
Climate change and and its consequences, such as more frequent
agriculture - relevance extreme weather events, new pests and
diseases, etcetera, lead to poor harvests or
The link between agriculture and climate crop failures, threatening farmer’s livelihoods
change is well documented. The sector and even food supplies.
contributes to climate change in two ways: While adaptation to climatic developments
In addition to greenhouse gas emissions is becoming a necessity from a local
(namely carbon dioxide, methane and perspective, the reduction of greenhouse
nitrous dioxide from agricultural production gas emissions is imperative from a global
and land-use change), the agriculture as perspective. It should be stressed that, from
well as the forestry sector are the only a long-term perspective, the most effective
sectors that actively contribute to carbon form of adaptation is mitigation. Therefore,
sequestration and thus act as greenhouse gas the key question is how to produce in a
sinks. Significant contributions to climate climate-friendly way, i.e. with the lowest
protection are humus formation in arable possible GHG emissions.
land, the fermentation of liquid manure and China and Germany are committed to
peatland restoration. an active climate policy. Both countries
The most recent IPCC report Climate change have adopted national climate action plans
and Land (2019) once again underlined that and defined their own sectoral targets for
agriculture, forestry and other land use combating climate change in agriculture.
activities account for 23% of total anthro- Moreover, both parties have signed the Paris
pogenic net greenhouse gas emissions. Agreement, which once again underlines the
Land-based mitigation and land-use changes need for active cooperation between nations
are needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C and the involvement of key stakeholders
or well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial at all levels. In recognition of the strong
levels. Despite emissions from agricultural interaction between climate change and
production and other land use activities, agriculture, the respective German and
agriculture is also the sector most directly Chinese ministries are tackling the issues
affected by its impacts. through joint project activities.
6 7
Scope of the study About the project The present study outlines the findings Chapter two presents research findings The current study was prepared as a China is an important partner for Germany of the German-Chinese Cooperation on with a focus on mitigation of greenhouse contribution of the German-Chinese in the field of agriculture and food, both Agriculture and Climate Change, which gases in livestock production. In particular, Cooperation on Agriculture and Climate economically and politically. The BMEL has was implemented in 2019. The overall aim the relevance of nitrogen use efficiency Change, a sub-project of the Sino-German a great interest in playing a constructive role of the project was to establish an expert in livestock production and options for Agricultural Centre (DCZ). The DCZ is in China’s transformation process. Thus, the dialogue to develop policy recommen- improvement, including livestock feeding part of the Bilateral Cooperation Programme DCZ brings together stakeholders from the dations for innovative, climate-relevant and housing, as well as manure storage, (BKP) of the German Federal Ministry public and private sector and the scientific interventions in the agricultural sector processing and application, are discussed. of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), which community. It creates forums in which in Germany and China. To this end, the The latter is explicitly addressed by strengthens the German-international agricultural issues of common interest are project brought together renowned and providing information on the treatment exchange between political and economic addressed. The spectrum of Sino-German experienced experts from both countries and utilization modes recommended by the actors from the agricultural sector. The cooperation in the agricultural sector with a strong background on various Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural partner countries are emerging economies is reflected in the three components of aspects of the interaction between climate Affairs. that are important in terms of agro-food the DCZ: Agricultural Policy Dialogue, change and agriculture. Their work, which Chapter three focuses on how climate policy and are also the focus of the BMEL’s Agri-Food Business Dialogue and Scientific is presented here, was based on their own change is already affecting crop production bilateral cooperation, which is based on the Dialogue. Further information can be found research and professional experience and in Europe and its projected future impacts. pillars of understanding, development and on the project website. was significantly complemented by the Aspects such as growing season length, sustainability. https://dcz-china.org/en/the-project.html exchange and insights gained through the water availability and increased CO2 levels The project is being implemented by IAK intensive collaboration within the project, are covered. It then outlines options for Agrar Consulting GmbH (IAK) as lead Acknowledgement especially during the exchange visits. adaptation and mitigation through plant company in a consortium with the Leibniz In order to cover the broad range of topics breeding – and reiterates the need for Institute of Agricultural Development in The Cooperation on Agriculture and Climate related to climate change and agriculture, international cooperation. Transition Economies (IAMO). Change would not have been as successful this collection consists of six selected The final chapter deals with current The Sino-German Agricultural Centre is without the dedicated contribution of the articles. In the first chapter, it introduces global developments and their impacts on a joint initiative of the German Federal experts involved. Thus, my sincere thanks the current climate policy in China and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) go to each and every one of them, including Germany by providing general information, By comparing greenhouse gas emissions and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Rita Merkle and Gerhard Rappold, who e.g. on the development of greenhouse gas from pork production and feed imports Affairs of the People’s Republic of China are not authors of this particular study but emissions and the most important political in China and the European Union, it (MARA). It was established in March 2015 contributed in other ways. Further, the measures. It focuses on policies to mitigate highlights the impact of the recent trade as a central contact and information point whole team of the Sino-German Agricultural climate change, presenting good practices disruption between China and the United and for coordinating bilateral cooperation Centre was of great support, including its and providing further recommendations. States as well as the impact of African swine between Germany and China in the backstopper. It has been a real pleasure to Moreover, additional exchange on the topic fever on trade flows of pig feed, pork and agricultural and food sector. work with all of them. is encouraged. related emissions. 8 9
Chapter 1:
With contributions from:
Climate Policies in
China and Germany
Bo Li, Wenzheng Xu
Department of Science,
Technology and Education,
Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Affairs
Yan Yan
Foreign Economic
Cooperation Center, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Hongmin Dong, Yu’e Li
Institute of Environment and
Sustainable Development in
Agriculture, Chinese Academy
of Agricultural Sciences
Yu’e Li, Bin Wang
Institute of Environment and
Sustainable Development in
Agriculture, Chinese Academy
of Agricultural Sciences
10 11
Germany’s
Mitigation Policies
Abstract and Measures of
Germany is an active promoter and
leader in tackling climate change. It has
Climate Change
set targets for reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions by 40% and 55% in 2020
in Agriculture and
and 2030 respectively, and a long-term Its Inspiration
goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions
in 2050. The Climate-Protection Law was to China
approved by the German lower house Bo Li, Wenzheng Xu
of Parliament in November 2019. The Department of Science,
agricultural sector is a main source of Technology and Education,
GHG emissions. Germany has accordingly Ministry of Agriculture
formulated short, medium and long-term and Rural Affairs
reduction targets, policy measures and
good practices for agricultural GHG
Yan Yan
emissions to achieve its national reduction
Foreign Economic
targets by 2020, 2030 and 2050. This
Cooperation Center, Ministry of
paper presents German agricultural GHG
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
emission trends, its agricultural policies
and measures to address climate change,
scientific research and innovation plans, Hongmin Dong, Yu’e Li
best practices and potentials to reduce Institute of Environment and
greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, Sustainable Development in
and finally some suggestions for China’s Agriculture, Chinese Academy
agricultural GHG emissions reduction. of Agricultural Sciences
12 13
1.
Introduction
In June 2019, the Chinese Minister of Engineering and Bioeconomy, the Leibniz
Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant
and the German Federal Minister of Research, the Federal Research Institute
Food and Agriculture (BMEL) signed for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries,
the Joint Declaration of Intent on Climate Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute
Change and Agricultural Cooperation. They and other research institutions and
agreed to carry out Sino-German cooper- agricultural enterprises, in order to learn
Bo Li, ation activities on agriculture and climate from Germany’s policies and measures,
Wenzheng Xu, change projects, investigate climate best practices, scientific research and
Yan Yan, change issues in the agricultural sector in innovation plans in agriculture. This
Hongmin Dong, China and Germany, exchange climate paper introduces Germany’s national
Yu’e Li change impact and mitigation strategies, GHG emission trends, recent (2020),
identify best practices in adaptation and medium (2030) and long-term (2050)
Germany’s mitigation of climate change, and promote policy measures and good practices, and
Mitigation Policies
the formulation and implementation of innovation plans to promote the mitiga-
agricultural policies to combat climate tion of climate change in agriculture.
and Measures of change. In order to better implement
the Joint Declaration of Intent on Climate
Germany’s policy measures, best practices,
and principles to reduce agricultural GHG
Climate Change Change and Agricultural Cooperation emissions can be of help to promote the
signed by the two countries, Chinese efficient use of agricultural resources,
in Agriculture and Its experts went to Germany for an exchange control non-point source pollution, reduce
visit in August 2019 and visited the BMEL, GHG emissions and drive green agricul-
Inspiration to China the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural tural development in China.
14 15
1 40.2% Managed soil
2. Energy Agriculture
Germany’s GHG emissions 2 38.5% Enteric fermentation
Industry Waste
3 14.4% Manure
Germany’s total GHG emissions in 2017 Figure 1.
management
were 906.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide Germany’s GHG emissions in 2017
equivalent (CO2-eq). Germany is one of (million tonnes of CO2-eq). Adapted from 4 2.9% Liming
the major agricultural producers in Europe, Common Reporting Format (CRF) for the
and agricultural production activities are German Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 – 2017, 64.5
5 2.5% Energy crop
a significant source of GHG emissions. by Federal Ministry for the Environment,
From 1990 to 2017, Germany’s total Nature Conservation and Nuclear Other carbon-
6 1.5%
containing fertilizers
agricultural GHG emissions accounted Safety, 2019, retrieved from 66.3
10
for 5.9-7.5% of its total GHG emissions. In https://unfccc.int/documents/194817 765.7 .2
2017, its agricultural GHG emissions were
66.3 million tonnes CO2-eq, accounting
for 7.3% of its total GHG emissions.
Agricultural GHG emissions are mainly From 1990 to 2017, Germany’s total GHG The main reason for the decline in had increased rapidly from 390 tonnes
CH4 emissions from enteric fermen- emissions fell by 27.5%, and agricultural Germany’s GHG emissions is that CH4 CO2-eq in 1990 to 1.624 million tonnes
tation and manure management, N2O GHG emissions also indicated a downward emissions from enteric fermentation have CO2-eq in 2017. The decrease in CH4
emissions from agricultural soils caused trend year by year. Compared with 1990, reduced by 9.817 million tonnes CO2-eq, emissions from enteric fermentation and
by the application of chemical and organic agricultural GHG emissions in 2017 a decrease of 27.8% compared to 1990; manure management is mainly due to the
fertilisers, returning straw to the field, dropped by 12.923 million tonnes CO2-eq, GHG emissions from manure management reduction in the inventory of dairy cattle,
excreted faeces by animals during grazing, a decrease of 16.3%. Germany’s agricultural reduced by 2.463 million tonnes CO2-eq, beef cattle, sheep, and pigs. In 2017, the
and CO2 emissions from the application of GHG emissions are only lower than those of a decrease of 20.5%; N2O emissions inventory of these four types of livestock
limestone and urea to farmland. In 2017, the Netherlands and Belgium, and slightly from agricultural soils also reduced year decreased by 33.9%, 38.5%, 43.0% and 13.5%
N2O emissions from agricultural soils, higher than those of Denmark, the United by year and dropped by 2.007 million respectively (Federal Environment Agency
CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation, Kingdom, Finland, and Italy. It is worth tonnes CO2-eq, a decrease of 7% (Figure [FEA], 2019) compared with the inventory
and CH4 and N2O emissions from mentioning that three major agricultural 2b) compared to 1990. CO2 emissions of 1990. The decrease in N2O emissions
animal manure management accounted countries, including the United States, caused by the application of limestone to from agricultural soils was mainly due to
for 40.2%, 38.5% and 14.4% respectively New Zealand and Canada, have witnessed the farmland reduced by 262,000 tonnes the decline in nitrogen input. Compared
of the total agricultural GHG emissions. an increase of their GHG emissions by CO2-eq. CO2 emissions caused by the to 1990, the amount of fertiliser applied
CO2 emissions from the application of 10.6%, 13.5%, and 27.8% respectively from application of urea and other carbon-con- has decreased by 23.3% and the amount
limestone and urea to farmland accounted 1990 to 2017 (United Nations Framework taining fertilisers to the farmland were the of manure applied in 2017 by 13.4% (FEA,
for 2.9% and 1.5% respectively of total Convention on Climate Change same as in 1990. CH4 and N2O emissions 2019).
agricultural GHG emissions (Figure 1). [UNFCCC], 2019; Figure 2a). caused by the fermentation of energy crops
16 17
3. 30
Germany’s mitigation
policies and measures of
climate change in agriculture
In order to achieve the 2020 GHG reduction The German lower house of Parliament
20
A
targets, the German Ministry for the approved the Climate-Protection Law in
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Cyprus
Environment, Nature Conservation, Building November 2019, which set its medium and 10
and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) issued the Climate long-term GHG reduction targets into law
Ireland
Canada
Spain
Action Programme 2020 in 2014, which put for the first time. Also, the BMEL issued
USA
forward priority emission reduction measures directives on the promotion of innovation in
and contributions of various industries animal husbandry (BMEL, 2016a), in crop Changes in agricultural GHG emissions (%)
0
(Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature production (BMEL, 2016b), in the soil sector
(1990-2017)
Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMEL, 2016c), a temporary call for proposals
[BMUB], 2014). The government updated in the area of raw material plant production for
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Denmark
United Kingdom
Finland
Italy
Japan
Austria
Switzerland
Australia
France
the German Sustainable Development Strategy material and energy use (BMEL, 2016d), the
Iceland
Portugal
Norway
in 2018, which explicitly stated to increase the German Fertiliser Ordinance (Kuhn, 2017), the
Sweden
proportion of organic agriculture areas from Livestock Husbandry Strategy (BMEL, 2018), -10
6.3% in 2014 to 20% in 2030 (The Federal and other GHG emission reduction policies
Government [FGG], 2018). In November (Figure 3).
2016, the BMUB passed the Climate Action The Climate Action Programme 2020, issued by -20
Plan 2050, which proposed medium and the BMU in 2014, puts forward two priority
long-term targets for the mitigation of climate actions in the agriculture sector: 1) amending the
change, clarified emission reduction targets and German Fertiliser Ordinance and calculating -30
development paths for various industries, and fertiliser demands, banning fertilisation in
listed all technical measures for reducing GHG autumn and winter, increasing the capacity of
emissions. Its medium-term target is to reduce farm manure storage, and improving fertilisation
Germany’s total GHG emissions by 55% by techniques. In addition, the improvement of GHG emissions
2030 in comparison to 1990, and the long-term fertiliser management through an amendment from Agri
target is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050
(BMUB, 2016). The Federal Ministry for the
to the German Fertiliser Ordinance to reduce
farmland N2O emissions by 3.3 million tonnes
sources (Tg
CO2e)
B
Environment, Nature Conservation, and CO2-eq and CO2 emissions from fertiliser
Nuclear Safety (BMU) published the Climate production by 2.5 million tonnes CO2-eq was
Action Plan 2030 in October 2019, reaffirming addressed. Another priority was to 2) increase
its national and industrial emission reduction the proportion of organic agriculture areas and Figure 2. Trends in agricultural GHG emissions, a) changes in total agricultural GHG emissions
targets for 2030, and identifying technical reduce GHG emissions during the production in developed countries from 1990 to 2017; b) changing trends in Germany’s primary agricultural
GHG emission sources. Adapted from National Inventory Submissions in 2019 from Annex I Parties,
measures and actions for industrial emission of fertilisers and pesticides. The additional by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2019, retrieved from
reductions (Federal Ministry of Food and emission reductions were 250,000 tonnes https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/reporting-and-review-under-
Agriculture [BMEL], 2019). CO2-eq (BMUB, 2014). the-convention/greenhouse-gas-inventories-annex-i-parties/national-inventory-submissions-2019
18 192014 2017 2019
Climate Action German Fertiliser • Climate-Protection Law
Programm 2020 Ordinance reduction measures and actions, clarifies actions to be performed for each measure,
• Climate Action Plan 2030
• GHG emission reduction measures proposes not to restrict agricultural production and to reduce agricultural competi-
for agriculture and foresty
tiveness while simultaneously carrying out emission reduction measures, improving
resource utilisation efficiency, taking mitigation and adaptation activities, and meeting
the targets of other policy measures (such as sustainable development strategies,
agricultural development wars, and air pollution control). Emission reduction measures
and actions include:
• Promoting research • Revision of Germanys National 2020
and innovation Sustainable Development Strategy
• Climate Action • Animal Husbandry Strategy
Programm 2050
2016 2018 1. reducing nitrogen surplus, NH3 and 4. reducing GHG emissions from livestock
N2O. From 2021 on, all farms will be husbandry. Guided by the protection of
required to calculate their nitrogen animal welfare and taking into account
Figure 3. Germany’s main policy measures to address climate change and
their release dates. Data from BMU (2019), BMUB (2014, 2016), balance. If the allowable surplus environmental impacts, appropriate
BMEL (2016a, 2016b, 2016c, 2016d, 2018, 2019), FGG (2018), Kuhn (2017). is exceeded, farm owners will be actions could include supporting farms
interviewed, facing a potential penalty; with no more than two animal units/
The Climate Action Plan 2050 proposed to livestock breeding and variety selection other possible measures are adjusting ha, promoting the animal welfare
control agricultural GHG emissions at 58-61 technologies, formulating livestock husbandry the fertilisation time, improving labelling system for livestock products,
million tonnes CO2-eq in 2030, which will development strategies, and reducing GHG crop residue management, using improving the standards of livestock
be 31-34% lower than in 1990, nitrogen emissions in livestock husbandry; reducing low-emission fertilisation technology, housing, collecting the assessment
surplus within 70 kgN/ha in 2028-2032 and food waste; strengthening scientific research increasing the sealed storage ratio of results of feed production, consumption
increase organic agriculture areas to 20% in on agricultural GHG emissions reduction cattle and pig manure (up to 70%), and demands, formulating overall
2030. Work in the agriculture sector focuses (BMUB, 2016). and reducing agricultural NH3 and strategies for the development of
on reducing GHG emissions and improving N2O emissions; livestock husbandry, drawing up
resource efficiency. Emission reduction The Climate Action Plan 2030 once again binding qualitative animal welfare
measures mainly include promoting the puts forward the reduction target of 2. promoting the production of biogas targets and quantitative environmental
implementation of agricultural policies and agricultural GHG emissions that must from manure and straw, biogasifi- targets, and incorporating national
measures; carrying out the German Fertiliser not exceed 58-61 million tonnes CO2-eq cation of manure and gas-tight storage livestock husbandry strategies into the
Ordinance, developing technical measures for in 2030 (BMU, 2019b). However, against of biogas slurry; overall strategies for reducing livestock
reducing nitrogen, and supporting farmers the backdrop of existing policy measures, emissions;
to promote gasification of straw and manure it is estimated that Germany’s agricultural 3. promotion of organic agriculture,
by implementing the Common Agricultural GHG emissions will be 67 million tonnes providing financial support and 5. improving energy efficiency and
Policy (CAP) and the Improvement of CO2-eq in 2030. research funding for its development, further enhancing agricultural energy-
the Agricultural Structure and Coastal Therefore, the Climate Action Plan 2030 and implementing organic agriculture saving technology as well as the use of
Protection (GAK); studying climate-friendly puts forward a set of enhanced emission strategies; renewable energy;
20 216. promoting the energy efficiency of to ensure and enhance sustainable months, and the federal government will Compared to the German Fertiliser Ordinance,
agricultural production and the use of grassland use; implementing the take relevant measures to meet this emission the revised version has stricter restrictions on
renewable energies (such as geothermal Common Agricultural Policy (direct reduction target by means of consulting nitrogen surplus, fertilisation time, and soil
energy and waste heat), regularly payments to farmers); continuing and relevant expert committees. Detailed carbon surface fertilisation, which can significantly
checking the sealing of biogas digesters, improving support for farms adopting emissions data for different sectors will be improve nitrogen fertiliser utilisation, reduce
improving the efficiency of biogas low-nitrogen fertiliser inputs, reduced measured annually by the German Federal N2O and NH3 emissions into farmland and
digesters, and carrying out farm energy tillage and grassland renewal; carrying Environment Agency and published in reduce losses such as the leaching of fertilisers.
conservation training and consultation; on to adopt agricultural and environ- March of the following year. An independent
mental protection measures to promote expert committee, composed of experts In January 2018, the BMEL released the
7. increasing soil organic carbon storage: grassland protection and utilisation, and in climate, social, economic, and environ- Livestock Husbandry Strategy (BMEL, 2018),
advocating crop rotation, building implementing the LFA subsidy policy mental sectors will evaluate the annual data which aims to improve animal welfare in
windbreaks and compliance systems under the second pillar of the CAP, released by the Federal Environment Agency the livestock industry and to reduce adverse
for agriculture and forestry, making which makes permanent grassland and report to the lower house of Parliament effects on the environment. Simultaneously,
voluntary accreditation of management maintenance more economically and the government. the economic foundation for agricultural
measures to increase soil carbon storage attractive; enterprises and the supply of sustainably
and obtaining financial support, and The revised version of the German Fertiliser produced meat to consumers must be secured.
developing tools to accurately assess 9. improving existing policies and measures Ordinance came into effect at the end of Main measures include improving livestock
soil carbon storage in order to increase for peat soil protection, providing May 2017. The regulation stipulates that housing and animal health, popularising
organic carbon storage, improve soil necessary financial support for wetland the amount of organic fertiliser applied to animal welfare food certification, supporting
quality, reduce CO2 emissions and protection, and increasing research and agricultural land must not exceed 170 kg N/ the development of farming enterprises with
prevent pollution; the development of peat soil protection; ha; it also requires to calculate the amount sufficient pastures, and restricting the use of
strengthening research on peat soil of organic nitrogen in manure and straw antibiotics. CAP funds are mainly used to
8. protecting permanent grassland, substitutes and reducing the use of peat returning to the field and the formulation of a support small and medium-sized farming
increasing grassland soil carbon storage, soil for horticultural planting; fertilisation plan based on the output. Further, enterprises so that they can meet increasing
continuing to implement regulations it stipulates that the nitrogen surplus must not demands for animal welfare, environment
for permanent grassland protection 10. drawing up a national strategy to reduce exceed 50 kg N/ha/yr, the phosphate fertiliser and climate protection. The BMEL is
and developing grassland strategies and avoid food waste. surplus must not exceed 10 kg P/ha/yr, and developing a grassland strategy to increase
phosphorus-rich soil must not exceed 0 kg P/ grassland productivity and fulfil its ecological
ha/yr; the time in winter when fertilisation is functions.
The Climate-Protection Law stipulates that procedures for the monitoring, reporting banned is delayed; a limit of applied fertiliser
the total GHG emissions shall be reduced by and verification of GHG emissions in for catch crop (ammonia nitrogenEstimated 4.
Agricultural measures for carbon emissions emissions Science and technology
No reduction and carbon fixation reduction innovation support for 2) enhancing animal breeding and reducing
(10,000 tonnes
CO2-eq per year) agricultural mitigation methane emissions, such as reducing GHG
of climate change emissions by increasing feed digestibility or
1 Reducing nitrogen surplus, promoting sealed storage of 190-750 increasing adaptive capacity; 3) improving
biogas slurry, using nitrification inhibitors, and taking crop
variety improvement and management measures In 2015, the United Nations Climate official management; 4) perfecting the
Change Conference (COP 21) reached the environmental conditions inside livestock
Paris Agreement. In order to implement the housing; 5) optimising manure management
2 Producing biogas by using livestock manure and straw, 200-240 agreement and promote the reduction of in the farms (manure management in
and promoting sealed storage of biogas slurry
GHG emissions in the agricultural sector houses and during storage and processing);
and adapt to climate change, the BMEL 6) encouraging the implementation of new
3 Developing organic agriculture and reducing 40-120
the use of chemical fertilisers launched four research projects to encourage technologies and knowledge transfer for
industry-research cooperation, innovation energy and nutrient recovery; 7) developing
4 Improving animal welfare, developing livestock 30-100 in practical and economical mitigation an evaluation index system; etcetera (BMEL,
housing which can reduce GHG emissions, advocating
precision feeding technology and reducing feed waste and adaptation technologies, and promote 2016a).
synergies between climate protection and
5 Improving energy-saving technologies for agricultural 90-150 food security, climate change mitigation and The Directive on the promotion of innovation
production and promote the use of renewable energies
adaptation, climate protection and other in crop production (BMEL, 2016b) aims to
environmental protection. significantly reduce GHG emissions in crop
6 Increasing soil organic carbon storage through measures such as 100-300
reducing cultivation, adopting no-tillage, planting catch crops, production through the development of
developing organic agriculture and strengthening grassland protection
The Directive on the promotion of innovation emissions reduction and adaptation technol-
in animal husbandry (BMEL, 2016a) aims ogies, to increase crop resistance to biotic and
7 Promoting permanent grassland protection and formulating a grassland -
strategy to ensure and strengthen the innovative management of grassland to improve and develop technical measures abiotic stress, and enhance climate change
to reduce emissions and adapt to various adaptation. Support measures include: 1)
8 Formulating peat soil protection policies and 300-850 production stages of livestock husbandry, drawing up technical measures to reduce
reduction of the use of peat soil for gardening
to formulate feed strategies and exploit the NH3 and N2O emissions; 2) planting catch
9 Preservation and sustainable management - potential of variety cultivation in addressing crops specifically with roots and/or nitrate/
of forests and utilization of wood climate change. Further, the directive targets nitrogen leaching; 3) promoting agricultural
the sustainable and stable development knowledge transfer and providing decision-
10 Implementing the National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction and 300-790
of livestock husbandry, significantly making support, providing effective
Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy to increase
the supplies of climate-friendly and healthy food in public catering reducing emissions during its development GHG emission reduction programmes,
and enhancing the adaptation to climate and improving the farmers’ management
Total 1250-3300
change. In terms of the mitigation of capacity in terms of emissions reduction;
GHG emissions, support measures include: 4) establishing an evaluation index system
Table 1. 1) improving animal nutrition, optimising for emissions reduction; 5) setting up an
Note: Adapted from Klimakabinett morgen: Klimaschutzmaßnahmen des Bundesagrarministeriums, feed management to reduce GHG emissions effective market mechanism and incentive
by Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, retrieved from https://www.bmel.de/Shared-
Docs/Pressemitteilungen/2019/190919-Klimakabinett.html Copyright 2019 by BMEL. and enhancing its input/output ratio; system (BMEL, 2016b).
24 25Emissions
reduction Best practice
measures
The Directive on the promotion of innovation Support measures include: 1) Research
in the soil sector (BMEL, 2016c) aims to and development of technologies for the Reducing • Improving control over the environment of livestock housing, enhancing animal
animal CH4 welfare and health, and reducing the emissions of animal products per unit
reduce GHG emissions and promote soil production of renewable raw materials and
emissions • Promoting low protein feed to reduce the N content in animal manure
carbon sinks through the development of energy crops in different soil-climate zones, • Increasing the milk production and reducing methane emissions from cows
innovative soil management and fertili- including the selection of crops, design of crop • Ensuring that farms have adequate pastures, and reduce GHG
emissions during feed production and transportation
sation technologies as well as to maintain rotation systems, efficient use of inorganic
soil productivity and improve adaptation and organic fertilisers and other resources, Reduc- • Encouraging manure anaerobic fermentation and biogas recovery
ing GHG • Storing animal manure outside the facility to reduce methane emissions
to climate change. Support measures use of by-products, production of GHG • Covering liquid faeces to reduce CH4 and N2O emissions
emissions
include: 1) optimising the application of emissions and microbial processes for carbon from manure • Promoting the sealed storage of liquid faeces to reduce CH4 and NH3 emissions
• Reducing the solid content of liquid faeces to reduce CH4 emissions
chemical fertilisers, such as reducing GHG storage, and investigation and analysis of management • Increasing the nitrogen content of biogas slurry and using it as a substitute for fertiliser
emissions in the industrial chain during farmland management measures and crucial and promot- • Reducing ammonia emissions by using acidified manure
ing biogas • Carrying out the deep application of biogas slurry fertiliser or
fertiliser transportation and application, technologies on reducing GHG emissions; recycling covering it after fertilisation to reduce N2O and NH3 emissions
before, during and after application and 2) adopting comprehensive measures for the
improving fertiliser use efficiency; 2) production of renewable raw materials to Reducing • Calculating fertiliser application based on soil and
N2O historical yield to reduce nitrogen surplus in the soil
reducing and eliminating soil compaction; protect soils with high organic carbon content • Applying slow release fertilisers and adding nitrification inhibitors
emissions
3) optimising biotic and abiotic soil (such as permanent grasslands and swamps into fertilisers in order to improve their utilisation efficiency
from
• Promoting tillage after surface fertiliser application or
characteristics to reduce GHG emissions; after flooding); 3) evaluation and promotion agricultural deep fertiliser application to reduce nitrogen loss
4) identifying, protecting and promoting of emission reduction technology and soils • Avoiding fertilisation in autumn and winter and
improving the nitrogen fertiliser utilisation rate
soil carbon sinks, developing optimised measures, including analysis and optimisation
• Reduction of cultivation, introduction of no-tillage and promotion
management technologies to protect and of the overall economic and environmental of strip farming and crop cover in order to reduce soil erosion
enhance soil organic matter for an extended efficiency, models and calculation methods • Increasing soil carbon storage through crop rotation,
planting catch crops and applying green manure
period, monitoring carbon content, and of GHG emission reduction measures, and • Enhancing the large-scale utilisation of crop straws to increase soil organic carbon storage
analysing organic carbon reserves and consideration of these measures’ impacts on • Planting legumes and reducing the application of nitrogen fertilisers
• Promoting organic agriculture, cutting down nitrogen fertiliser
changes under different management other resources (such as water and biodi-
application and increasing soil organic carbon storage
options (BMEL, 2016c). versity), contributions to climate protection,
suggestions and consultation on GHG Protecting • Avoiding wetland drainage, protecting and restoring wetlands, and reducing soil CO2 emissions
wetland • Prohibition of recultivation of grassland as farmland and
The Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission measures (BMEL, 2016d). grassland increase of organic carbon storage in the soil
emissions in the area of raw material plant • Reducing the use of peat soil as a horticultural substrate
production for material and energy use 5. Reducing • Purchasing food based on the intake of animal products
(BMEL, 2016d) aims to reduce GHG Good practices in agricultural GHG recommended by the German Nutrition Society
• Encouraging dietary changes, climate protection,
emissions in the production of renewable mitigation of climate change emissions by
and reducing the consumption of animal products
changing the
raw materials and energy crops through Germany has explored a lot of good • Reduction of food waste
consumption • Reduction of the consumption of bottled water
technology research and development and practices in reducing GHG emissions in methods • Controlling air cargo
avoiding land-use changes caused by the livestock husbandry, manure management, • Exploring climate labels
production of biomass raw materials. crop planting, and management, which
have been widely promoted and applied as Table 2. Best practices in agricultural mitigation of climate change
Note: Adapted from Scientific Advisory Board on Agricultural Policy, Food and Consumer Health Protection &
summarised in Table 2.
Scientific Advisory Board on Forest Policy, 2016; Naumann & Frelih-Larsen, 2010; BMUB, 2017; Yi et al., 2018
26 276. Comparison of Chinese and German agricultural emission reduction policies and some suggestions Through exchange, we believe that German agricultural policies and technologies in response to climate change have played a vital role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and thus can be helpful for China. Germany has formulated a series of policies China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (National People’s and measures for tackling climate change Congress [NPC], 2011) and 13th Five-Year in the agriculture sector, set the targets Plan (NPC, 2016) for controlling GHG In the Climate Protection Programme 2030 All emission reduction policies and for reducing national net GHG emissions emissions, and the report Enhanced Actions on issued by the German government, the measures formulated and implemented by 2020, 2030, and 2050 by 40%, 55%, Climate Change: China’s Intended Nationally principle of adopting measures to reduce by the government should increase food and 100% respectively in comparison to Determined Contributions, submitted to the GHG emissions in the agriculture sector production capacity, the farmers’ income, 1990 levels, proposed policy measures, United Nations by China (NDRC, 2015), (BMU, 2019b) is proposed, that is, without enhance the farmers’ adaptive capacity, emission reduction targets and potential have proposed different GHG control targets restricting agricultural competition or and improve the utilisation efficiency for each specific measure to reduce GHG at different times. CO2 emission intensity in reducing agricultural competitiveness, of pesticides, fertilisers, and irrigation emissions (BMUB, 2014, 2016; BMEL, 2020 and 2030 is to be reduced by 40-45% creating synergies between mitigation and water while reducing agricultural GHG 2019), and also put forward medium and and 60-65% respectively in comparison to adaptation strategies, improving resource emissions and promoting agricultural soil long-term emission reduction targets in 2005. In these policy documents, guidelines utilisation and meeting the goals of other carbon sinks. Also, the agricultural sector’s the form of legislation. China’s National and relevant targets for reducing GHG policies and measures. China is a country with principles for combating climate change Climate Change Programme (National emissions in the agriculture sector are also a large population, minimal cultivated land in both countries are consistent, and Development and Reform Commission explicitly stipulated. The determination and and water resources, and a fragile ecosystem. both strive to reduce agricultural GHG [NRDC], 2007), released in 2007, is efforts of China and Germany in combating Ensuring food security, eliminating poverty, emissions on the premise of promoting China’s first policy to address climate climate change are clearly reflected in the protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable agricultural development and change, including agricultural mitigation integrity, coherence and operability of the sustainable agricultural development are top ensuring the interests of farmers. and adaptation measures. above-mentioned policy measures. priorities for China. 28 29
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BMEL (Federal Ministry of Food and BMUB (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Kuhn, T. (2017). The revision of the German National People’s Congress (2016). China’s
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32 33Mitigation Policies,
Measures, and
Recommendations
for the Agricultural
Sector of China
Yu’e Li, Bin Wang
Institute of Environment and
Sustainable Development in
Agriculture, Chinese Academy
of Agricultural Sciences
34 351.
Introduction
The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergov- emissions, with 41.5% and 59.5% respec-
ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tively of China's total CH4 and N2O
reported that global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (People’s Republic of China
emissions in 2010 were 49 ± 4.5 billion tonnes of [PRC], 2018). China attaches immense
carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq), of which importance to combating climate
methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) change and has therefore introduced and
emissions accounted for 16% (7.8 ± 1.6 billion implemented a number of policies and
tonnes CO2-eq) and 6.2% (3.1± 1.9 billion measures to reduce GHG emissions and
Yu’e Li, tonnes CO2-eq) respectively of total GHG integrated mitigation policies into the
Bin Wang emissions. Agriculture is the primary source of 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) and 13th
CH4 and N2O emissions, and those from crop Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for National
Mitigation Policies, cultivation and the livestock sector (CH4 and Economic and Social Development. In
N2O) account for about 10-12% of total global 2009 and 2015, China made commit-
Measures, and GHG emissions (Smith et al., 2014). China's ments on GHG control targets for 2020
Recommendations total GHG emissions in 2014 were 12.3 billion
tonnes CO2-eq, with agricultural production
and 2030. The agricultural sector has also
formulated relevant measures to control
for the Agricultural activities being a significant contributor to agricultural non-point source pollution
these GHG emissions. Agricultural GHG and GHG emissions and to promote the
Sector of China emissions accounted for 6.7% of total green development of agriculture.
36 372. 2.2
China's agricultural production GHG emissions from
status and GHG emissions agricultural activities
A
Total GHG emissions (BtCO 2 e)
China has submitted five national inventories
2.1 to the secretariat of the United Nations
China's agricultural production status Framework Convention on Climate Change
During 1980-2018, China's total grain (UNFCCC). Greenhouse gas emissions
production increased significantly by 105%. In are gradually increasing, but the growth
particular, rice (52%), wheat (138%) and maize rate was decreasing in 2012-2014. Without
(311%) showed remarkable increases. Between considering the carbon removal in Land Use,
1982 and 2018, meat and milk production Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF),
increased by 4.4 and 26 times respectively and China's total GHG emissions in 2014 were
egg production 10.2 times (National Bureau 12.3 billion tonnes CO2-eq. Agriculture is an
of Statistics of China [NBS], 1985, 2019). The essential source of GHG emissions. GHG
rapid development of China's agricultural emissions from the agricultural sector in Energy Industry Agriculture Waste
production is closely related to high input China for the years 1994, 2005, 2010, 2012 and
use. In 2018, China's chemical fertilisers 2014 accounted for 14.9%, 9.8%, 7.9%, 7.9%
consumption was 56.53 million tonnes and 6.7% of total national GHG emissions
B
Emissions (Million t CO 2 eq)
(equivalent to pure quantity), of which 20.65 respectively (Figure 1a). GHG emissions from
million tonnes were nitrogen fertilisers and the agricultural sector (938 million tonnes
22.69 million tonnes compound fertilisers. of CO2-eq) were highest in 2012 during
In China, the application of nitrogen and the period of 1994-2014 and were reduced
phosphorus (P2O5) fertilisers increased by to 830 million tonnes of CO2-eq in 2014
57.4% and 102.5% respectively; the application (Fig. 1b). The reduction in GHG emissions
of potassium (K2O) and compound fertilisers from agriculture in 2014 is mainly due to
increased by 6.6 and 11.6 times respectively reduced livestock numbers. Fertilisation,
during 1986-2018 (NBS 1987, 2019). In 2017, livestock breeding, rice cultivation, and
the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus (P2O5) manure management are the main sources
and potassium (K2O) application per unit of agricultural GHG emissions. In 2014,
of cropland in China was much higher than the four emission sources (energy, industry, Enteric MMS Rice Soil
the global average. It was 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 times agriculture, and waste) accounted for 43%,
the world average and 1.8, 5.2 and 2.4 times 26%, 20%, and 10% of total agricultural GHG
the average German application (Statistics emissions respectively (PRC, 2018). Reducing Figure 1. 1. GHG emissions from different sectors in China,
| Food and Agriculture Organization of the farmland fertilisation and increasing fertiliser a) composition of the GHG emissions in China;
United Nations [FAOSTAT], 2019). Due to use efficiency, improving animal manage- b) composition of the GHG emissions from the agricultural sector in China.
excessive fertilisation and the rapid develop- ment, and improving water and fertiliser Adapted from The People’s Republic of China Second Biennial Update Report on Climate
ment of animal husbandry, water, air and soil management of paddy field are the leading Change, by People’s Republic of China (PRC), 2018, retrieved from
pollution are severe, and a large amount of measures to reduce GHG emissions from the http://english.mee.gov.cn/Resources/Reports/reports/201907/P020190702568751604320.pdf
GHGs was emitted. agricultural sector in China.
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