Brazil anticipates goal of reducing CO2 emissions with sustainable agriculture

Brazil mitigated between 100,21 and 154,38 million Mg CO2 equivalent, in the period from 2010 to 2018, reaching 68% to 105% of the mitigation target established nationally in the Agriculture sectoral plan (ABC Plan) with the Convention- United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These data are being presented at the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24), which is taking place in Katowice, Poland, until the 14th. 

“Brazil has one of the best environmental laws in the world. The numbers we are presenting prove that we have already achieved practically all the commitments made by the country at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), held in Copenhagen, and that they must be fulfilled by 2020. The data demonstrate that Brazilian agriculture is sustainable and the world needs it recognize this”, stated the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), Blairo Maggi.

The director of the Department of Production Chains and Sustainable Production (DEPROS) at Mapa, Pedro Neto, explains that the estimates for the adoption of ABC Plan technologies are not restricted only to the areas financed by this plan, but also to other sources as in this case of Pasture Recovery (RDP). 

Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and MapBiomas are also measured, through the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals Estimation System (SEEG). This explains the variation in mitigation estimates. 

The director recalls that the creation of the ABC Platform, installed at Embrapa Meio Ambiente, was essential for evaluating the mitigation results. The platform's objective is to coordinate multi-institutional actions to monitor the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from Brazilian agricultural sectors, especially those carried out by the ABC Plan. 
 
“Taking the RDP as an example, data from the Central Bank on the adoption of credit for the use of this technology, in the period from 2013 to 2018, added to data projected by Mapa’s Coordination of Conservationist Agriculture, Planted Forests and Climate Change (CAFMC), indicate expansion of 4,46 million hectares (ha) of RPD in the country. SEEG data, which uses animal stocking rates to determine the condition of the pasture, points to a much larger area of ​​expansion, in the order of 10,44, XNUMX million ha in the period”, demonstrated the CAFMC coordinator, Elvison Ramos.

Regarding ABC, the coordinator notes that, in addition to being sustainable, the plan generates more income and productivity. This justifies investments made, often, with rural producers’ own resources. In financing, from January 2013 until last month, more than 34 thousand contracts were signed, exceeding R$ 17 billion and adding more than 9,1 million hectares with conservation practices. This area is equivalent to almost 13 million football fields.

The Sector Plan for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change for the Consolidation of a Low Carbon Emission Economy in Agriculture, ABC Plan promotes the adoption of sustainable and conservative technologies for natural resources such as RDP, Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration ( ILPF), Direct Planting System (SPD), Biological Nitrogen Fixation (FBN), Planted Forests (FP) and Animal Waste Treatment (TDA). Currently, these technologies are adopted by 52% of Brazilian municipalities, totaling 2.885. 

ILPF achieved an area expansion, between 2010 and 2016, of 5,83 million ha, which represents 146% of the target established in the ABC Plan for this technology, foreseen at four million ha. This area expansion allowed the mitigation of 36,40 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 182% of the mitigation target, set at 22 million Mg CO2 equivalent. In the Direct Planting System, the target of expanding the area by 8 million ha was exceeded by 1,97 million ha, reaching a total of 9,97 million ha, also between the years 2010 and 2016. This number corresponds to the achievement of 18,25 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 101% of the target. 

Biological Nitrogen Fixation began to be used in an additional 9,97 million ha, reaching 181% of the estimated target, in the period from 2010 to 2016. With this increase in area, it was possible to mitigate 18,25 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 182% of the target. In the period from 2013 to 2018, 4,51 million m3 of animal waste were treated, which represents 103% of the TDA target. With this, it was possible to mitigate 7,08 million Mg CO2 equivalent.  

The incorporation of over 1,10 million ha of Planted Forests between 2010 and 2018, 37% of the area target, allowed the mitigation of 15,57 million Mg CO2 equivalent, considering in this calculation the biomass produced by this crop, which corresponded 173% of the proposed objective.

Embrapa's executive director of Innovation and Technology, Cleber Soares, who is part of Mapa's delegation at the 24th COP, says that in the last five decades, the Brazilian agricultural sector has increased its productivity by 380%, allowing the transition of a vulnerable country and food importer for one of the largest food suppliers in the world. “The results of this investment, together with public policies and technical assistance, made it possible to increase productivity, optimizing the use of already open areas and the recovery of pasture areas. This made it possible to strengthen the sustainability of Brazilian agricultural production throughout the country”, concludes the director.