Reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with agricultural production is essential for achieving a more sustainable agriculture system. Even if fossil fuels were immediately eliminated, emissions from agricultural production (especially methane and nitrous oxide) would still need to be greatly reduced to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. Because global population and food demand are projected to continue growing through at least 2050, the emissions intensity of agricultural production, measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per 1,000 kilocalories in the global food supply, needs to fall even faster than absolute emissions. Changes to food production practices as well as to consumption patterns (e.g., amount of food loss and waste, share of animal-based foods in diets, and share of agricultural products used as bioenergy) are necessary to help achieve this required decline in emissions intensity. The emissions intensity of agricultural production has been falling for decades, driven largely by steady gains in the efficiency of crop and livestock production. Between 1990 and 2020, for example, the global GHG emissions intensity of agricultural production declined by 30%. However, total absolute agricultural emissions are still increasing, rising by about 18% during the same time period.  

Reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with agricultural production is essential for achieving a more sustainable agriculture system. Even if fossil fuels were immediately eliminated, emissions from agricultural production (especially methane and nitrous oxide) would still need to be greatly reduced to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. Because global population and food demand are projected to continue growing through at least 2050, the emissions intensity of agricultural production, measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per 1,000 kilocalories in the global food supply, needs to fall even faster than absolute emissions. Changes to food production practices as well as to consumption patterns (e.g., amount of food loss and waste, share of animal-based foods in diets, and share of agricultural products used as bioenergy) are necessary to help achieve this required decline in emissions intensity. The emissions intensity of agricultural production has been falling for decades, driven largely by steady gains in the efficiency of crop and livestock production. Between 1990 and 2020, for example, the global GHG emissions intensity of agricultural production declined by 30%. However, total absolute agricultural emissions are still increasing, rising by about 18% during the same time period.