Agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, accounting for 11% of the total emissions in 2021 with CO2, being a major contributor to global warming, as it persists in the atmosphere for longer, unlike methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which have shorter atmospheric lifetimes. However, the environmental damage of farm level CO2 consumption is often overlooked compared to the other two, as it is harder to investigate and regulate. This study focuses on the environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption within the UK livestock sector, emphasizing CO2 emissions, which have increased by 22% from 1990 to 2021.
Sustainable livestock production practices, such as improved manure management, anaerobic digestion, dietary adjustments, and renewable energy implementation, can significantly reduce GHG emissions. However, economic pressures and the need to maintain productivity often hinder the adoption of these practices. The analysis reveals a trade-off between environmental sustainability and productivity, with farms frequently prioritizing productivity to ensure economic viability.
The research aims to quantify CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption at the farm level, explore the influence of farm management practices on these emissions, and measure their impact on livestock farm productivity. The findings indicate that CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are often underestimated due to the complexity of agricultural processes and inconsistent accounting methods. The study highlights the critical role of fossil fuel consumption in agricultural operations and the lack of capacity and incentives for farms to replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources.
Using data from a survey conducted by the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), the study employs econometric techniques to measure the impact of fossil fuel CO2 emissions on farm productivity. The results show that higher fuel emissions per hectare are positively correlated with farm productivity, suggesting that fuel-intensive machinery and equipment are essential for efficient farming operations. Similarly, higher electricity consumption per hectare significantly boosts productivity, highlighting the importance of energy in agricultural activities. Practices like measuring carbon footprint and avoiding tillage have a positive impact on CO2 reduction but negatively affect productivity as does the choice to sell within short supply chains.
The study concludes that targeted policies and incentives are necessary to encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies in agriculture. These initiatives should balance environmental sustainability with economic productivity, ensuring that farmers can maintain or enhance their productivity while reducing their carbon footprint.
Dr Nenia Micha is an environmental economist specialising in the socio-economic aspects of natural resource management. She is a Senior Research Fellow at Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), University of Gloucestershire and her research focuses on exploring human nature relations, policy-practice gaps and the sustainable development of the rural space. She holds a PhD on farmers policy response, and she is an expert in applying advanced statistical and econometric techniques. Before joining CCRI she worked as an econometrician for the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments programme and for the Hellenic University. She is currently involved in a variety of projects investigating the socio-economic sustainability of the farming and the fishing sectors in the UK and globally.