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Farmland innovations hold key to climate change mitigation, study finds
An international study led by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) highlights the critical role of farming practices in addressing climate change, emphasizing the potential of plant agriculture and synthetic biology to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The research identifies the reduction of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer as the fastest and most impactful way for agriculture to achieve large-scale carbon mitigation.
The study introduces a comprehensive framework for evaluating how farmland can contribute to cutting greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing soil carbon storage. According to lead author Professor Claudia Vickers from QUT's School of Biology and Environmental Science, even modest improvements in current agricultural practices could yield substantial climate benefits when applied globally.
Global croplands already capture over 115 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually through photosynthesis, the study notes. Enhancing this natural process by improving crop management, bioengineering plant traits, and employing techniques such as biochar application could amplify carbon capture. Among these methods, reducing synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use and deploying biochar present the largest immediate opportunities for carbon reduction, each with the potential to achieve gigatonne-level impact.
Looking ahead, synthetic biology offers promising long-term climate solutions. The research projects that such approaches could collectively remove up to 260 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the next century when integrated across agricultural systems. Synthetic biology techniques alone might account for around 120 gigatonnes of this reduction, with additional strategies contributing the remaining amount. The study highlights that the scale of deployment, rather than just carbon capture per hectare, is critical to maximizing overall climate benefits.
Experts underscore that a diversified portfolio of strategies will be essential. Co-author Professor Philipp Zerbe from the University of California, Davis, alongside Professor Vickers, stresses that no single intervention will suffice to meet global climate goals. The framework they propose factors in scalability, durability, technical feasibility, socioeconomic impacts, and ecosystem health while ensuring economic viability for farmers and safeguarding food security.
Agriculture’s dual capacity to feed the planet and mitigate climate change positions it uniquely among sectors. This study provides a roadmap for unlocking that dual potential through targeted improvements and innovations in farming practices.