Agriculture
The agriculture sector accounted for 12% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. Emissions of methane and nitrous oxide dominate this sector. The most significant sources here are emissions of methane due to enteric fermentation from livestock, particularly cattle, and nitrous oxide emissions related to the use of fertilisers on agricultural soils. Emissions from fuel use in farm vehicles and machinery are also fairly significant.
Enteric fermentation is a part of the digestive process in animals, with methane emissions mostly coming from ruminant animals that are raised for meat or milk. Ruminant refers to herbivorous animals that chew and regurgitate their food through a number of different stomachs, such as cattle and sheep. As food that these animals have digested decomposes and ferments, methane is produced as a by-product, which will then be released into the atmosphere. These emissions can mainly be influenced by breeding practices and the type of animal feed.
Since 1990, there has been a general downward trend in emissions from agriculture, with an overall decrease of around 10%, although the decrease has been slow, and some years have seen year-on-year increases, particularly since 2015.
The long-term reduction has been achieved largely through a decline in animal numbers alongside a decrease in synthetic fertiliser use, with emissions from the latter having reduced by around 50%. Emissions from enteric fermentation and animal wastes have decreased by around 17% and 14% respectively, although emissions from vehicles and machinery have increased by 28% over the period.
The additional end-user emissions are emissions from the electricity supply and fuel supply sectors which have been re-allocated to the agriculture sector. This mainly relates to either electricity consumption or the processing of fuels for use by farm vehicles and machinery.
Enteric fermentation is a part of the digestive process in animals, with methane emissions mostly coming from ruminant animals that are raised for meat or milk. Ruminant refers to herbivorous animals that chew and regurgitate their food through a number of different stomachs, such as cattle and sheep. As food that these animals have digested decomposes and ferments, methane is produced as a by-product, which will then be released into the atmosphere. These emissions can mainly be influenced by breeding practices and the type of animal feed.
Since 1990, there has been a general downward trend in emissions from agriculture, with an overall decrease of around 10%, although the decrease has been slow, and some years have seen year-on-year increases, particularly since 2015.
The long-term reduction has been achieved largely through a decline in animal numbers alongside a decrease in synthetic fertiliser use, with emissions from the latter having reduced by around 50%. Emissions from enteric fermentation and animal wastes have decreased by around 17% and 14% respectively, although emissions from vehicles and machinery have increased by 28% over the period.
The additional end-user emissions are emissions from the electricity supply and fuel supply sectors which have been re-allocated to the agriculture sector. This mainly relates to either electricity consumption or the processing of fuels for use by farm vehicles and machinery.
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What needs to be done to reach net-zero?
Changes in farming practices will be necessary in order to address emissions from both livestock and soils. Machinery and vehicles will also need to switch from using fossil fuels. Some farms have already been able to successfully introduced new practices that reduce emissions, and that good practice will now need to be rolled out across the whole sector.
Behavioural changes will also be required by consumers in order to reach net-zero. In particular, that will mean a reduction in meat and dairy consumption.
Changes in farming practices will be necessary in order to address emissions from both livestock and soils. Machinery and vehicles will also need to switch from using fossil fuels. Some farms have already been able to successfully introduced new practices that reduce emissions, and that good practice will now need to be rolled out across the whole sector.
Behavioural changes will also be required by consumers in order to reach net-zero. In particular, that will mean a reduction in meat and dairy consumption.
