Report considers options to reduce farm emissions

A report has been published looking at options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish farms.

The ClimateXchange report considers 20 options to reduce emissions including changes in management of fertiliser, soil and manure, livestock feeding and energy use.

Some of these changes require an investment in new tools, equipment or other installations on farm.

The analysis indicates that these 20 technology options could reduce emissions by between 9 and 150 kt CO₂e GHG annually if they were implemented to their fullest potential across Scotland. Doing this would also have other positive environmental effects.

The 'On-farm technologies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland report' recommends use of complementary incentive mechanisms to encourage uptake of the technologies. These could include:

• increased emphasis on these technologies in extension services or mechanisms
• support for collaborative implementation of the technologies
• foot printing/accounting schemes for validating and signalling on-farm and supply chain progress
• a comprehensive approach to each stage of the supply chain

Visit the ClimateXchange website to download 'On-farm technologies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland'.