McConkey GRA methods oct 2011
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The document outlines a collaborative framework to enhance agricultural greenhouse gas research, emphasizing increased cooperation and knowledge sharing to improve productivity while reducing emissions. It details specific action plans and focus areas for various research groups, including livestock, croplands, and paddy rice, aimed at developing best practices and standard methodologies for measurement and mitigation. The ultimate goal is to optimize agricultural practices within the Earth's carrying capacity, balancing productivity and environmental sustainability.
McConkey GRA methods oct 2011
- 1. Enhancing cooperation in agricultural greenhouse gas research Structure, Vision and Work plans for Research Groups and Cross-cutting Groups
- 2. Our Collective Vision •Increase agriculture production with lower emissions Feeding the world within the carrying capacity of earth •Improve global cooperation in research & technology Accelerate/strengthen knowledge and technology development that would not happen without the Alliance •Work with farmers and partners, provide knowledge Develop relevant mitigation options and strengthen productivity and resilience of food systems
- 3. Concerted Actions Paddy Rice Research Group Croplands Research Group Livestock Research Group Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling Cross-cutting Groups Inventory and Measurement
- 4. Livestock Research Group Harry Clark & Martin Scholten • Livestock is key agricultural sector in all regions with GHG emissions arise from animals, manure, and soils Stocktake shows more than 40% of all current research is in livestock; two thirds funded by governments • Almost all Alliance members participate • Two subgroups: Ruminants (rumen and soils) Non Ruminants (manure)
- 5. Livestock – Action Plan Near-term actions: (achieved / in progress) Stocktake analysis Best practice guides Technical manuals Collaborative projects Awards / fellowships Targeted networks Technical synthesis reports Medium-term priorities: (planned for 2011/2012) •Publish near-term action results •Update the Stocktake •Identify possibilities for joint research •Identify critical factors related to GHG emissions •Identify options for measures •Operationalize our long-term ambition Wellington Banff Clermont/Versailles Amsterdam
- 6. Croplands Group •Coordinators USA (Steve Shafer, Alan Franzluebbers) •Sub-groups Management and net GHG emissions: France (Guy Richard), USA (Charles Rice) Emission of GHGs in agricultural peatlands and wetlands: Norway (Lillian Oygarden) Models for C and N emissions: France (Sylvain Pellerin) •Focus areas Establish scientific teams; develop literature database; standardize protocols; initiate collaborative research
- 7. Croplands – Action Plan •Near-term actions Establish working relationships among scientists •Longer term actions Evaluate success of different management practices to reduce GHG emissions across ecological conditions •Achievements to date Scientific commitment, literature database, inventory of scientific activities across countries •Support arrangements Global Research Alliance Borlaug fellowships (USA)
- 8. Paddy Rice Group •Rice is staple food for > 2 billion people •Paddy rice cultivation systems have different GHG emissions than other cropping systems •18 countries are members of the paddy rice group •Coordinated by Japan and Uruguay •Stocktake shows currently 64 research projects underway in 16 different countries −Two major topics: GHG accounting/LCA and agronomy −Two primary outcomes: mitigation and inventory
- 9. Paddy Rice – Goals & Benefits •Primary goal is limiting emissions of methane (CH4), but trade-offs with nitrous oxide (N2O) and soil carbon will need to be considered •Consideration of links between mitigation, productivity and adaptation: optimize relationship between CH4, productivity and water use •Standardization of measurement techniques: - Survey to understand gaps in current methodology - Indicates potential to establish standard method for developing national inventories and mitigation options
- 10. Soil Carbon-Nitrogen Cycles Cross-Cutting Group (FRANCE / AUSTRALIA ) Improved methodologies and models for mitigation •Define common objectives across Research Groups •Build a common modelling platform from multiple models •Build collective expertise on applicability of models, uncertainty and range of mitigation options Workshops and activities to advance these goals: •First workshop (Orléans, March 3, 2011): stock-take of C-N models and datasets •Second workshop (Leuven, July 2011): model-data intercomparison, including hands-on training
- 11. Inventories and Measurement Cross-Cutting Group (CANADA / NETHERLANDS ) Concentrate on addressing issues that affect and benefit more than one Research Group •Complement and support the Research Groups •Further consistent methodological approaches Information, knowledge, and data sharing •Inventory methods, common priorities for collaboration •Improve quantification of emissions and mitigation actions •Meeting Nov. 8-10, 2011, Ottawa, Canada Guidelines for measurements •Improve comparability, coherence, quality, verifiability