A recent study has found that new agricultural technology and management strategies can effectively eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in net negative emissions. This means that these methods are capable of reducing more greenhouse gas than food systems contribute.

The study was led by Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, and Maya Almaraz, associate research scholar at Princeton University. Their findings were published in the journal PLOS Climate.

According to the researchers, implementing agricultural technology could lead to over 13 billion tons of net negative greenhouse gas emissions annually. Currently, food systems worldwide account for 21% to 37% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions. If left unmanaged, this percentage could rise to 50% to 80% by 2050.

While previous research has emphasized the importance of dietary changes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Houlton and Almaraz propose that further reductions can be achieved through the implementation of agricultural technologies.

Their study identifies several effective strategies for reducing emissions, including enhancing soil modifications for crops, implementing agroforestry practices, adopting sustainable seafood harvesting methods, and promoting the production of hydrogen-powered fertilizers.

In other news, Thad England has joined the U.S. team at Groundwork BioAg, an agricultural company focused on biologically enhancing plant growth and crop yield. Agriculture continues to have a significant impact on global trade. Additionally, the illegal trade of seeds is a growing concern within the industry.