Helping farmers count the cost of reducing emissions
Agena is partnering Surrey University in its project BaNGAS (Bayesian Networks to support Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction in the Agricultural Sector). The project is helping farmers find cost-effective means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their farm. The research will generate estimates of a farm’s environmental account using Defra data and then develop different scenarios for how to reduce emissions. Each scenario will have cost implications attached to ensure you are able to make well informed and profitable decisions.
Problem
'Is solar or a turbine better for my farm? Would fuel and nutrient efficiencies have more impact than renewables anyway? At the end of the day, what can I afford?’These are all valid and common questions farmers are asking themselves as the industry tries to reach the 11% emission reduction target.
Defra’s 2008 UK Agriculture report showed that environmental measures have both costs and benefits. It is therefore important to ensure that the costs of reducing GHG emissions are weighed up before making any decisions.
Solution
Using causal estimation models built with AgenaRisk BaNGAS
generates different scenarios for reducing GHG emissions at the farm
level. One example shows the GHG emissions produced by two farms – a
mixed farm and the same farm, but powered by renewable energy. In this
example the model showed that, although using renewable reduces
emissions, the cost implications can make the option impractical.
Looking at alternative scenarios for the same farm, the research
suggested that it is possible to achieve a 25% reduction in the farm’s
emissions by deploying different land management measures, i.e. through
a 15% reduction in the use of fertilisers, a 49% increase in the level
of carbon sequestered through appropriate land management
practices, and by replacing the use of fertilisers with manure or
slurry.Benefits
- A tool to help understand the positive/negative impact of your environmental efforts on the farm’s business.
- Scenarios to help you decide which mitigation method will be more cost effective.
- The opportunity to optimise your business with regards to GHG emissions, taking into account the farm’s emission sources, and potential for carbon storage linked to land use and management, energy consumption and livestock.
An article about the project has appeared here in Farming Futures. For further details about this project contact Dr Elena Pérez-Miñana - Phone 01256 783575 Mobile 07909773912. Email elena.perezminana@btinternet.com.
Ed Tranham, Commercial Director
T: + 44 20 7404 9722
E: ed@agena.co.uk
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