Concern about the accumulation of gases in the earth’s atmosphere and their impact has led food companies to propose solutions to reduce emissions of these products.
Following the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), held in November 2022 in Egypt, industry representatives expressed their intention to help preserve the environment.
During the event, experts said that food companies release a quarter of the greenhouse gases that modify global temperatures. Livestock farming is the main contributor to the deterioration of the ecosystem.
Industrialized food production also has its share of responsibility. It currently threatens 86% of the world’s endangered species.
This affects not only biodiversity but also food security. Due to climate change, there are crop failures and livestock losses.
For this reason, entrepreneurs consider it necessary to take concrete actions to address this problem and save agribusiness.
Especially considering the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has triggered food prices and caused shortages of some items in different countries.
The Proposals of the Food Companies
The food companies’ proposal includes using various technology and incentives to reduce polluting activities.
In their opinion, the measures taken to curb the atmospheric problem are essential for the agricultural sector and the community in general.
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Scientists agree with reducing gas emissions, but some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and environmental activists do not believe in such actions or their possible results.
As they have pointed out, the proposals presented at COP27 respond more to corporate interests than to put an end to the industry’s “bad practices.”
Among other things, the business leaders propose using robotics, livestock burping, fossil fuel fertilizers, and industrial agriculture as ecological alternatives.
“Climate-Smart” Agriculture
This approach is not new, but it represents a significant opportunity to ensure sustainable productivity for food companies.
Various corporations, governments, and multilateral organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), have included it in their climate plans and policies.
They have even earmarked large sums of money for research into intelligent technological solutions, such as weeding robots.
These machines are believed to avoid the use of pesticides and help farmers transform their cropping systems.
Other ways of addressing the climate challenge, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), cultured meat, drip irrigation, and zero dairy products, are also being evaluated.
The business sector believes this could go a long way in reducing emissions and ensuring food security.
Putting Livestock on a Diet
Methane gas is known to seriously damage the atmosphere, trapping heat and contributing to global warming.
Cows and other grass-fed animals often emit it.
The nitrogen fertilizers that farmers use to grow these plants cause them to absorb and dump them every time they burp.
Food companies are proposing to cut emissions by modifying the diet of livestock.
One option would be to feed them products made from seaweed, garlic, green tea, ozone, and enzyme inhibitors.
Reducing meat and dairy consumption would also solve part of the problem, but there was no talk at COP27 of changing the human diet.
Increased Access to Fossil Fuels Fertilizers
Another of the solutions suggested by industry at the United Nations Climate Change Conference has to do with fossil fuels.
The food industry depends on this energy source to produce synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
According to a 2022 study, these fertilizers generate 2% of greenhouse gas emissions.
While reducing their use would be appropriate to mitigate environmental damage, industry representatives believe they should expand access and make fertilizers more efficient.