Roadmap for achieving net-zero emissions in global food systems by 2050. 2022

Ciniro Costa, and Eva Wollenberg, and Mauricio Benitez, and Richard Newman, and Nick Gardner, and Federico Bellone
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT-Multifunctional Landscapes, Cali, Colombia. c.costajr@cgiar.org.

Food systems (FSs) emit ~ 20 GtCO2e/y (~ 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions). This level tends to raise given the expected increases in food demands, which may threaten global climate targets. Through a rapid assessment, evaluating 60+ scenarios based on existing low-emission and carbon sequestration practices, we estimate that intensifying FSs could reduce its emissions from 21.4 to - 2.0 GtCO2e/y and address increasing food demands without relying on carbon offsets (e.g., related to afforestation and reforestation programs). However, given historical trends and regional contexts, a more diverse portfolio of practices, including diet shifts and new-horizon technologies, will be needed to increase the feasibility of achieving net-zero FSs. One likely pathway consists of implementing practices that shift food production to the 30th-percentile of least emission-intensive FSs (~ 45% emissions reduction), sequester carbon at 50% of its potential (~ 5 GtCO2e/y) and adopt diet shifts and new-horizon technologies (~ 6 GtCO2e/y). For a successful transition to happen, the global FSs would, in the next decade (2020s), need to implement cost-effective mitigation practices and technologies, supported by improvements in countries' governance and technical assistance, innovative financial mechanisms and research focused on making affordable technologies in the following two decades (2030-2050). This work provides options and a vision to guide global FSs to achieving net-zero by 2050.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002244 Carbon A nonmetallic element with atomic symbol C, atomic number 6, and atomic weight [12.0096; 12.0116]. It may occur as several different allotropes including DIAMOND; CHARCOAL; and GRAPHITE; and as SOOT from incompletely burned fuel. Carbon-12,Vitreous Carbon,Carbon 12,Carbon, Vitreous
D002980 Climate The longterm manifestations of WEATHER. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Climates
D005502 Food Substances taken in by the body to provide nourishment. Foods
D000074382 Greenhouse Gases Gaseous elements, chemicals that are in the atmosphere that may contribute to GREENHOUSE EFFECT. Greenhouse Gas,Gas, Greenhouse
D017752 Greenhouse Effect The effect of GREENHOUSE GASES and the resulting increase in world temperatures. The predicted health effects of such long-term climatic change include increased incidence of respiratory, water-borne, and vector-borne diseases. Effect, Greenhouse
D057965 Carbon Sequestration Any of several processes for the permanent or long-term artificial or natural capture or removal and storage of carbon dioxide and other forms of carbon, through biological, chemical or physical processes, in a manner that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere. Carbon Sequestration Techniques,Carbon Sink,Carbon Sequestration Technique,Carbon Sequestrations,Carbon Sinks,Sequestration Technique, Carbon,Sequestration Techniques, Carbon,Sequestration, Carbon,Sequestrations, Carbon,Sink, Carbon,Sinks, Carbon,Technique, Carbon Sequestration,Techniques, Carbon Sequestration

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