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Agriculture becoming more energy efficient: Worldwatch
Story Date: 5/10/2013
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Source: Rtia Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 5/9/13
A new report by Worldwatch Institute showed growth in agricultural production between 1990 and 2010 outpaced growth in emissions by a factor of 1.6, demonstrating increased energy efficiency in the agriculture sector.
The report noted a 13 percent increase in global greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector over 20 years (1990-2010) to a totaled 4.69 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.
By comparison, global carbon dioxide emissions from transport totaled 6.76 billion tons in 2010 and emissions from electricity and heat production reached 12.48 billion tons.
The three most common gases emitted in agriculture are nitrous oxide, CO2, and methane. Methane is generally produced when organic materials such as crops, livestock feed, or manure decompose anaerobically (without oxygen). Methane accounts for around 50 percent of total agricultural emissions.
Enteric fermentation (the digestion of organic materials by livestock) is the largest source of methane emissions and of agricultural emissions overall.
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