Opinion Article
Ladislau Martin Neto ¹
Introduction
Agriculture, which is fundamental from a social, economic, and environmental perspective, is responsible for approximately 20% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. The main anthropogenic GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O).
To contextualize the issue of “climate change,” consider the following facts: globally, fossil fuels (petroleum-derived) account for 75% of GHG emissions, which are considered the main drivers of global warming and climate change; in Brazil, however, the GHG inventory has a very different composition compared to the global average, with approximately 75% of emissions associated with land-use change (mainly due to deforestation — ~50%) and the agricultural sector (~25%). Thus, Brazilian agriculture is linked to the fact that Brazil is the 5th largest emitter in the world, accounting for 3.1% of global emissions.
It is important to emphasize, however, that agriculture itself is one of the sectors most affected by global climate change, as it is essentially an “open-air industry,” exposed to severe climate-related risks. In Brazil, more than 90% of agricultural production depends on rainfall. In addition, more frequent and intense heat waves create further challenges for agricultural production, among other factors. Thus, agriculture is—or may become—one of the greatest victims of climate change.
Therefore, addressing and contributing to mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the Brazilian agricultural sector is imperative.
2. Relevant Actions for the Present and Future
2.1. Emissions Challenges and the Role of Soil
In the effort to promote mitigation of GHG emissions and adaptation to climate change in agriculture, Brazil has been investing in research for at least 25 years. Through the work of researchers and public R&D&I institutions, and by following global trends, the need for monitoring and inventories of GHG emissions in agriculture has been identified.
At Embrapa, which has largely been a pioneer in this agenda, these efforts were supported by strong international cooperation and increased financial resources for acquiring new equipment and infrastructure for laboratories and experimental fields, as well as hiring a new generation of researchers and analysts, among other actions. The establishment of research networks was also essential, involving important collaborations with universities in Brazil and abroad, other research institutions, and the private sector, known as the Pecus, Fluxus, and Saltus networks, associated with livestock, agriculture, and forestry, respectively.
Other institutions have also made significant progress, generating impactful results and establishing research facilities and active cooperation networks, such as the Center for Carbon Studies in Tropical Agriculture (CCarbon), led by USP/ESALQ with support from FAPESP, and the INCT-ABC, led by UFRGS/Department of Soil Science with support from CNPq/MCTI, among others. Since 2020, the PRO Carbono project, led by Bayer, has been monitoring 1,800 farms in grain-producing areas and developing research and generating relevant results in cooperation with Embrapa and universities.
Based on research findings and published results, the Brazilian government, through MAPA, established the Low-Carbon Agriculture Plan (ABC Plan) in 2010, with targets for a 10-year period. These targets have already been achieved and exceeded, with results published. The plan was succeeded by the ABC+ Plan, which includes agricultural practices with potential for GHG mitigation and climate adaptation, aiming to mitigate 1.1 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
2.2. Carbon Removal from the Atmosphere and Sequestration in Soil
Agriculture is one of the few sectors of the global economy that, in addition to reducing its own GHG emissions, can also remove carbon from the atmosphere and stabilize it in soils and forest biomass, as well as in perennial crops.
Brazil, with its continental territory (850 million hectares), over 50% of which is covered by preserved forests, and with soils capable of sequestering carbon, is globally recognized as one of the main players—if not the leading one—in “nature-based solutions” for GHG mitigation. This topic has been widely discussed in panels and debates at COP 30, held in Belém, Pará.
Scientific results have been extensively published over time by both Brazilian and international researchers. It is also worth noting that in various Brazilian biomes, appropriate use of lime and fertilization, no-tillage systems, and cover crops, among other practices, have demonstrated increases in soil carbon stocks compared to conventional management involving plowing and harrowing, which was predominant decades ago. In other words, a very positive and significantly different scenario has emerged over the past 30 years regarding soil carbon in Brazil.
It is essential to maintain and advance research, including on-farm studies, to consolidate conditions for soil carbon credit projects, such as conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture, bioinputs, and integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems.
There is also a demand for simplifying and reducing costs of soil carbon measurement metrics, which remains a global challenge. Brazilian science has contributed with innovations such as the development of equipment based on spectroscopic techniques like LIBS (laser-induced) and NIRS for large-scale soil carbon quantification. These technologies, developed by Embrapa units, have been transferred to private companies and allow faster and lower-cost analyses compared to the international reference method using CHN elemental analyzers, and are already accepted by international certifiers such as Verra.
Recent studies using LIBS have also demonstrated the possibility of determining soil bulk density using disturbed samples or pedotransfer equations, simplifying processes and reducing costs. However, soil carbon metrics still present opportunities for further innovation, both in Brazil and globally.
2.3. Research on Adaptation and Resilience for the Climate Emergency
It is a high priority for Brazil to advance and invest in science to face the growing challenges of climate change impacts on agriculture. Many scientists and leaders refer to this as a Climate Emergency, given the scale of the challenge, particularly regarding food security in Brazil and globally.
Key topics include:
– Expansion of advanced plant and animal breeding techniques, including gene editing technologies such as CRISPR (non-transgenic), to enhance resistance to drought, heat waves, flooding, and other stressors;
– Development and use of bioinputs in the context of climate change, including biological nitrogen fixation (already used on 40 million hectares), nutrient mobilization, biological pest control, and soil microbiome management to increase system resilience;
– Brazil’s tropical and subtropical soils require continuous fertilizer use, and the country is highly dependent on imported inputs, posing a major risk. Therefore, seeking alternative domestic sources, including rock-based fertilizers and reuse of agricultural, industrial, mining, and urban residues, is a priority;
– Integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems (ICLF) and agroforestry systems, which promote product diversification, improve efficiency in input use, and increase soil organic matter;
– Research on cover crops and service plants, which are essential for improving soil health, increasing carbon stocks, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening resilience in agricultural systems.
3. From the Agricultural Revolution to the Climate Revolution
Brazilian agricultural research has much to celebrate, but also much to plan and anticipate in a future shaped by new and impactful variables—particularly global climate change. Brazil and the world need solutions, and we are facing a Climate Emergency. A new revolution is required: a climate adaptation revolution for agriculture.
Acknowledgments
To the Board of SBCS and members of Division 2 – Soil Processes and Properties, and the Commissions of Soil Biology, Soil Physics, Soil Mineralogy, and Soil Chemistry.
Note
The opinions expressed in this text are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Brazilian Soil Science Society (SBCS).
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