Barriers to mitigating emissions from agriculture: analysis of mitigation options, related barriers and recommendations for action : interim report

In: Climate change 2023, 05

In: Research projekt of the Federal Foreign Office

Abstract

On the basis of a literature review, this paper outlines the main mitigation options for agricultural activities and the broader food system on the supply and the demand side. Economic, policy/legal barriers, technical barriers, socio-cultural barriers, institutional barriers as well as biophysical or environmental barriers exist that hinder the implementation of these options. Such barriers operate at farm level, at national level, at the international level as well as at consumer level. The identified barriers are clustered and recommendations are developed to overcome them, including capacity building and education, participatory approaches with farmers, setting economic incentives right, redirecting public support to focus on sustainable practices, reforming agricultural subsidies, stricter regulations, improved tenure security, coherent policy signals, addressing policies and trade structures at international level and market regulations for fairer prices to producers. However, suitable approaches for the development of food systems need to be context-specific as agricultural systems as well as barriers obstructing the implementation of mitigation approaches are highly diverse and specific to local circumstances. Including mitigation targets related to agriculture in countries' NDCs provides an opportunity to raise ambition to tackle emissions related to food systems.