Agri-Net-Zero Models

ZERO CARBON AGRICULTURAL MODELS

Agri-Net-Zero Model

Agriculture is a significant contributor to global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for up to 24% of the total worldwide, with Indian agriculture contributing 47% and 80% of methane & nitrous oxide emissions, respectively. It has the potential to become a net emissions sink through practices like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Agriculture also faces substantial impacts from climate change, absorbing 63% of climate disaster impacts and contributing to 48% of negative land impacts and 70% of water resource issues. Climate change reduces the nutritional value of crops, exacerbating the issue of nutritional deficiency despite food sufficiency in India. Net zero agriculture can enhance farm productivity, save resources, and increase sustainability. Given the significant role of agriculture in both contributing to and mitigating climate change, it is essential to integrate Net Zero Goals within broader strategies to make agriculture and food systems resilient to environmental challenges.

The Clean Food Net Zero programme was conceptualized & initiated by IORF, under the aegis of the Phase II of the seminal IBM-IORF Sustainability Project to establish a tangible transitory pathway from Chemical-Intensive Carbon Positive Conventional Agriculture to a most Safe & Sustainable Crop Production System under its IRF Technology while it ensured both Ecological and Economical Sustainability, it was Adaptable and Affordable for the small and marginal farmers of our country.

The project was conducted in Mandya, Karnataka in about 25 ha area with all major crops of the area generating negative more than 6000 mtCO2e. This is indeed a spectacular and pathfinder for the Net Zero Agriculture as the Carbon Footprint of earlier Agriculture practice which was 470 mtCO2e/ha because whooping – 251.55 mtCO2e/ha. Therefore it is much more than Net Zero rather Carbon Negative – 1^st Model of Net Zero Agriculture.

Clean Food Net Zero (CFNZ) Program

The highlight of this Clean Food Net Zero (CFNZ) program is that while delivering Safest Food and Empowering Farmer’s Livelihood, it provides impactful Action against Climate Change in terms of mitigating GHG Emissions worth 251.55 mtCO2e/ha. It is necessary to emphasize over here that an overwhelming majority of this astounding amount of GHG emission mitigation actually consists of prevention of Methane emission (the most dared GHG – as it disintegrates in the atmosphere to release CO2, water vapor and tropospheric Ozone; all of them being hazardous to all terrestrial life forms)from its source i.e. Coir pith (an undiagnosed agri-landfill waste).

Farming is both a contributor to climate change and one of the sectors most severely impacted by it. Agriculture and its allied sectors (AFOLU) are the second-largest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), responsible for about 24% of global emissions, making it both a prime cause and a major victim of climate change. As a fundamental activity, agriculture is crucial to human survival and society, as food is essential for life. Notably, agriculture possesses unique potential for both adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts. Through ideal soil-plant relationships, agriculture can generate negative emissions and reinstate the sink capacity of the soil, transforming it into a carbon reservoir. The Agri-Net-Zero highlighting the critical role farmers play in reducing GHG emissions while producing healthy, sustainable food that is affordable and adaptable. Agriculture is uniquely positioned to sequester emissions from other sectors, making it an enormous but vital task.

The Relevance of Agri-Net-Zero

The relevance of Agri-Net-Zero is threefold. First, climate change is driven by global warming, which is caused by GHG emissions. Agriculture is uniquely capable of offsetting these emissions directly at the source, possessing both the tools of adaptation and mitigation. Second, unlike other net-zero programs that create carbon-negative points without reducing emissions at their sources, agriculture can have a direct impact on climate change by offsetting GHG emissions, abating Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) with 273 times higher GWP, mitigating Methane (CH₄), and sequestering carbon in the soil. Lastly, the CARBON FOOTPRINT AND SUSTAINABILITY FOOTPRINT IN AGRICULTURE ARE DIRECTLY & INVERSELY RELATED; a higher carbon footprint implies lower sustainability, and vice versa. Sustainable agriculture is essential for Food Security, Nutritional Security, and Safe Food for the present and future populations. Achieving Agri-Net-Zero with crop sustainability enhances overall agricultural sustainability. In conclusion, Agri-Net-Zero is the only sector capable of restoring the carbon cycle and carbon reservoir mechanism, effectively addressing the critical intersection of Global Warming, Climate Change and Sustainability.

Clean Food Net Zero - The Best Climate Action Model

IBM-IORF Clean Food ‘Net Zero’ (CFNZ) Model recognized as the best climate action model. Clean Food Net Zero (CFNZ) represents a groundbreaking initiative, possibly the first of its kind in agriculture, aiming to achieve Net-Zero Emissions while ensuring sustainable food production. This model stands out for its comprehensive approach to sustainability.

Methane Mitigation

Addressing methane emissions at the source, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

Waste Recycling

Recycling landfill waste into high-quality manure, resulting in a significant reduction of approximately 6340 mtCO2e in the project area of 25 hectares.

N2O Abatement

By replacing artificial N-fertilizers, the model abates N2O emissions, resulting in a reduction of more than 2000 kgCO2e per hectare.

Soil Health Rejuvenation

Featuring a vast self-generated microbial pool of 40 trillion billion, enhancing soil vitality.

Ensuring Crop Sustainability

Leading to a minimum of 10% up to 20% higher yields through increased photosynthetic efficiency.

Carbon Footprint

The model potentially mitigates approximately 13.78 kgCO2e/kg of vegetable produced.

Energy Efficiency

Achieving 432% higher energy efficiency in crop productivity per unit energy investment.

Carbon Sequestration

Through land use change, contributing to C-sequestration with a reduction of -28473.48 kgCO2e in 25.2 hectares.

Circular Bio-Economy

Serving as a model for circular bio-economy, effectively managing hazardous agricultural waste.

With a net carbon footprint of 250 mtCO₂e per hectare and generate a total net carbon footprint of 6340 mtCO₂e. Additionally, it achieves a 57% Energy Transition, contributing significantly to energy sustainability. This single model addresses Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Net Zero objectives. By simultaneously addressing global warming, climate change, and agricultural sustainability, it aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 13.

This transformative journey toward sustainability has led to the development of robust assessment tools and government initiatives promoting sustainable agriculture and voluntary carbon market projects. The resulting models demonstrate high Negative Carbon Footprints and adhere to safety and sustainability standards, marking a significant advancement in achieving Agri-Net-Zero Objectives. The project exhibited similar success in the second year, proving the effectiveness of IRF Technology for plant health management and Novom Composting Technology for Novcom coir pith compost in soil health management. The net carbon footprint from 25.2 hectares of CFNZ is (-)6309.374 mtCO₂e, certified by i-NO Carbon, UK, with a continuation model showing 250.37 mtCO₂e/ha.

Other Agri-Net-Zero Models

For effective sustainability outreach especially to the small & marginal farmers.

Clean Seed Net Zero (CSNZ) Model

Climate Resilient, Suitability under Low input agricultural crop production, SEED (Vegetable Seeds) for Net Zero Crop Production.

Clean Planting Material Net Zero (CPMNZ) Model

This inimitable model can not only be used offsetting Carbon Footprint (leading to the coveted Net Zero status), but also to create a unique and essential imprint in the global value chain of climate-resilient, regenerative Sustainable Organic Agriculture.