Determining greenhouse gas emissions hotspots and potential abatement strategies: the rice sector in India and the cacao beans sector in Ivory Coast

Abstract

The urgency to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly in the agricultural sector, has become paramount in the wake of escalating climate change. This urgency is underscored by the Paris Agreement's ambitious goal of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors, accountable for 22% of total global emissions, have been identified as significant contributors. This paper addresses the imperative need for strategic and comprehensive actions within agriculture to align with the 1.5°C pathway. Focusing on two critical crops essential to the modern diet – rice and cocoa – this master's thesis aims to assess GHG emissions comprehensively, identify principal sources of emissions, and propose agricultural interventions with high GHG abatement potential. The research considers India as a major rice producer and exporter and Ivory Coast as the largest cacao bean producer and exporter globally. Challenges in achieving emission reduction targets include the immense scale and heterogeneity of agricultural production systems. Each production system, influenced by factors such as geography, type of production, and farming practices, exhibits different emission sources and magnitudes. Moreover, farmers lack adequate incentives to adopt novel methods and technologies crucial for climate change mitigation. The results reveal that direct emissions dominate in rice cultivation, primarily methane and nitrous oxide emissions from flooded paddy rice fields. In contrast, land use changes due to massive deforestation to accommodate growing demand for cacao accounts for most of the emissions in this agricultural sector. The paper identifies interventions such as alternate wetting and drying in rice cultivation and agroforestry in cacao production as effective strategies for climate mitigation. However, significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the applicability, costs, and barriers to implementing these interventions. Enhanced research and development efforts are necessary to address these gaps and foster adoption by farmers. Transparent methodologies and accurate estimations of GHG abatement are crucial for guiding strategies toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement. In conclusion, while challenges remain, agriculture holds the potential to achieve net-zero emissions with sufficient support, motivation, and concerted efforts across stakeholders. Enhanced research, development, and adoption of sustainable practices are essential for realizing this potential and mitigating the impacts of climate change on global food security.