Thoughts on Final Paper

Try this on as an approach:

I'm writing a policy brief for a Washington State legislator, or the Secretary of Agriculture, who wonders how Washington State Agriculture could contribute to reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. (Constituents calling for change, or the Governor asking the Dept of Ag how state agriculture can contribute to GHG and energy reductions)

Paper Title:

• Reducing the U.S. food system's contribution to energy consumption and GHG emissions

The Problem:

• The U.S. food system accounts for close to 16% of total U.S. energy use (Brodt). US Agriculture accounts for 7% of all US GHG emissions. (EPA GHG Inventory 1990-2004, and Crosby PPT) That is a cost to energy independence and GHG emissions that we don't want to pay. What alternatives do we have to reduce the US food system's contribution to energy use and GHG emissions? - Consider: reduce food miles; optimize efficiencies of household appliances; societal shift to a more plant-based diet and away from animal foods; change consumption habits with energy/GHG labeling;
• "The increased level and volatility of agricultural prices is negatively impacting the purchasing power and the food security of the poor (von Braun 2007). If the global community does not invest massively to confront the challenges posed by climate change and high energy prices, the social and economic costs will be large." (von Braun)
  

Framework for thinking about/organizing alternatives

Major areas of energy use:

• production of fertilizers
• irrigation
• transportation

Food System Life Cycle Stages: (Heller & Keoleian, 2000)

• origin of (genetic) resource
  
• agricultural growing and production
  
• food processing, packaging and distribution
• preparation and consumption
• end of life
  

Selected Solution Alternatives:

• Promote/support local farmers and farming
  
• Promotion of "buy local" programs (Maryland doc)
• Support, enforce, and fund existing laws such as Washington State's Chapter 215, Laws of 2008 - Local Food Production
• improved energy efficiency and crop yields (von Braun)
• Implementation of Precision Farming Techniques (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Promote Anaerobic Digestion (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Incentivise Agricultural Carbon Management (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Development of Potential Offsets Related to Conservation and Grazing Lands (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• "Allowing agricultural producers to claim offsets not only by reducing nitrogen use but also by displacing synthetic fertilizers with organic soil amendments derived from biomass resources." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
  
• "Allowing a range of soil amendments derived from biomass sources to count as offsets when used to replace synthetic fertilizers." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
• Don't promote Biofuels from non-cellulosic materials (von Braun)
• Promote production of biofuels from lingo-cellulosic materials and wastes through research (von Braun)
• improved fertilization techniques (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Promote Climate-Friendly Farming practices (Crosby PPT)
• Encourage no-till/strip-till practices (CCX faq)
• changes in tillage (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
  
• improvements in livestock feed can also reduce methane emissions (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture (See Pew) ["Sequestering carbon on farmland could create a 'new crop' for farmers, who could earn money by trading their carbon offsets with industry."] (also recommended by von Braun)
• Farmers who keep carbon in the ground could sell carbon credits to businesses (Crosby PPT). The could increase farm in come by 10% (CCX faq).
  
• Promote Preservation of agricultural land to increase carbon sequestration potential (Maryland report)
• AW-7 Preservation of Open Space/Agricultural Land - http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/interimreport/122107_TWG_agr.pdf
  
• Reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions ("nitrous oxide emissions, primarily from agricultural practices, contribute about 6 percent to the state’s greenhouse gas pollution." Oregon Plan to reduce GHG)
  

Candidate Solution Alternatives:

• Carbon labeling
• tolls on large food transport vehicles
• Promote/support local farmers and farming
  
• Promotion of "buy local" programs (Maryland doc)
• Support, enforce, and fund existing laws such as Washington State's Chapter 215, Laws of 2008 - Local Food Production
• improved energy efficiency and crop yields (von Braun)
• Implementation of Precision Farming Techniques (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Promote Anaerobic Digestion (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Incentivise Agricultural Carbon Management (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• "Allowing agricultural producers to claim offsets not only by reducing nitrogen use but also by displacing synthetic fertilizers with organic soil amendments derived from biomass resources." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
  
• "Allowing a range of soil amendments derived from biomass sources to count as offsets when used to replace synthetic fertilizers." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
• Don't promote Biofuels from non-cellulosic materials (von Braun)
• Promote production of biofuels from lingo-cellulosic materials and wastes through research (von Braun)
• Change consumer behavior "We suggest that the most effective opportunities to enhance the sustainability of the food system exist in changing consumption behavior, which will have compounding benefits across agricultural production, distribution and food disposition stages." (Heller & Keoleian, 2000)

Energy and GHG Reductions

• improved fertilization techniques (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Promote Climate-Friendly Farming practices (Crosby PPT)
• Encourage no-till/strip-till practices (CCX faq)
  

Principally GHG Reductions

• changes in tillage (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
  
• improvements in livestock feed can also reduce methane emissions (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture (See Pew) ["Sequestering carbon on farmland could create a 'new crop' for farmers, who could earn money by trading their carbon offsets with industry."] (also recommended by von Braun)
• Farmers who keep carbon in the ground could sell carbon credits to businesses (Crosby PPT). The could increase farm in come by 10% (CCX faq).
  
• Promote Preservation of agricultural land to increase carbon sequestration potential (Maryland report)
  
• Reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions ("nitrous oxide emissions, primarily from agricultural practices, contribute about 6 percent to the state’s greenhouse gas pollution." Oregon Plan to reduce GHG)
  

Things to think about:

• Biofuels crops ‘may speed global warming’ - http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article141360.ece - http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/11191/2007/acpd-7-11191-2007.pdf

• "Assisting the OFP is the Farmland Preservation Task Force. Created as part of the OFP, the Governor appointed Task Force consists of 18 members from around the state who have been meeting regularly since December of 2007 to explore issues relating to the decline in agricultural lands and make recommendations for the retention of these lands and for the economic viability of working lands." http://ofp.scc.wa.gov/index.php/preservation-news
  

Other Problems:

• food prices continue to rise beyond the reach of many people
• increasing food miles contribute to energy consumption and global warming
• Current agricultural practices cannot sustain current agricultural output

Alternatives for Reducing Food Miles at the National Level

• Carbon labeling
• tolls on large food transport vehicles
• Promote/support local farmers and farming
• Promotion of "buy local" programs
  

Resources

• Assessment of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Food System: A Literature Review - Sonja Brodt
• Brodt's 16% comes from Hendrickson, J. 1996. Energy Use in the U.S. Food System: A Summary of Existing Research and Analysis. Madison, WI: Univ. of Wisconsin, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
• Heller and Keoleian (2000). "Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System” http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS00-04.pdf
• EPA U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Archive
  
• FCRN Research Library
• Policygap - between GHG reduction and energy reductions - Minnesota agriculture contributes roughly 14% of state GHG emissions
• Australian GHG Report -McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative - Title: An Australian Cost Curve for Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• GOOD LIST OF ALTERNATIVES - Maryland Climate action document - Maryland Climate Action Plan: Greenhouse Gas & Carbon Mitigation Working Group: Policy Option Documents
• Globalization of the food supply - UK
• Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Times of High Energy Prices - Joachim von Braun - Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C., USA
• Good resource for food policy papers - IFPIRI
• Washington ECY - targets as of 12/07 - Agriculture Sector Technical Work Group Policy Option Recommendations
• Wa Climate Advisory Team - AgTWG - GHG mitigation options as of 11/5/08
• WA Bill on GHG targets/options agTWG report - ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2815, Chapter 14, Laws of 2008, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
• Wa AgTWG charter
• Incentivising Agricultural Carbon Management - Recommendations for the Development of Agricultural Sector Carbon Offsets in Washington State - October 2008
• September 2008 Climate Comments to Ag TWG
• Wa Gov EXECUTIVE ORDER 07-02 WASHINGTON CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE
• 
  

Notes:

• At least in New Mexico, the Secretary of Agriculture sits on the Governor/State's Climate Action Council (NM Gov Executive Order)

Carbon Offsets Benefits
From CCX carbon offsets FAQ

• Q: Does provision of global environmental services by agriculture through GHG mitigation hold significant potential for economic opportunity and rural development?
• A: Yes. While agriculture likely will continue to be a modest part of the total share of the total GHG mitigation portfolio, the economic potential is significant. Estimates suggest that contribution of a full suite of agricultural GHG mitigation options raise net farm income by 10% or more, while helping reduce income variability and enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change.
• The Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association project is already part of the exchange portfolio of projects
• "Current farm policy does not reward farmers who use no-till, or for that matter any other method of conservation tillage."

Carbon Offsets for WA Farmers - http://www.directseed.org/carbontrading.html - http://ucanr.org/spotlight/carbonparking.shtml