Even before the global concern with carbon emissions from agriculture, Brazilian producers were already aware of its importance and knew how to combine productive and environmental efficiency. In this way, they have become models of sustainability for the world with low carbon agriculture.
What is carbon?
Carbon is present in our daily lives, at all times. It is the common element in everything we know, being one of the few elements that practically connects everything that exists on Earth.
Carbon is present in several items, such as chairs, tables, books, fuel, clothes, cars, and tires. It is one of the main elements of life. It is present in your body and is the fundamental element for plant photosynthesis. In the bark of trees, in the leaves of soybeans, in the roots of corn, in fruits, in the pollen of flowers, all incorporate carbon. However, this carbon is also related to some environmental problems, including climate change.
Natural climate changes have occurred throughout human history. In recent decades, a high rise in temperatures has been identified. Some studies have pointed out the cause as the increase in greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO2) – so important for the start of the photosynthesis process.
In view of this, farmers began to play an important role in mitigating this problem. The climate change mitigation service performed by farmers deserves recognition.
Farmers are responsible for the production of food and active agents in the care of the environment and low carbon agriculture, adopted by them, has promoted increases in productivity and carbon sequestration in Brazilian soils.
What is low carbon agriculture?
The goal of low-carbon agriculture is simple: remove excess carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Allied to this, it enables the best growth and development of plants, benefits linked to sustainability.
Low carbon agriculture involves implementing agricultural practices in order to increase the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by converting it to carbon in plant material and soil organic matter.
Increased carbon sequestration occurs when conservation agricultural practices are adopted, such as:
• No-tillage system;
• Minimal soil disturbance;
• Crop rotation and succession;
• Integrated systems;
• Cover crops;
• Biological nitrogen fixation
Several of these agricultural practices are already adopted by Brazilian farmers, greatly reducing soil disturbance. This made possible the increase in carbon sequestration.
The loss of soil carbon is mainly due to changes in soil management, which can increase or decrease the amount of CO2. Thus, low carbon agriculture can be considered successful when the amount of carbon sequestered by the soil is greater than the amount emitted.
Adopting innovations and best practices in agriculture are natural solutions to climate change. “Soil health” not only benefits agricultural productivity, but also plays a key role in carbon sequestration, making it a valuable asset for society as a whole.
Additional benefits of carbon farming
In addition to offsetting emissions, agricultural practices related to low carbon agriculture have additional benefits. It is possible to restore degraded soils, improve agricultural production, reduce pollution, minimize erosion and nutrient runoff, purify surface and groundwater, increase microbial activity and soil biodiversity.
It is important to recognize the value of these other benefits, so that they do not go unnoticed in the implementation of actions focused on soil carbon sequestration. The added benefits mean that more food can be produced by preserving “soil health” and, as a result, sequestering atmospheric carbon.
The Brazilian farmer as an example of environmental and productive efficiency
Here, it is worth mentioning the phrase of the Embrapa researcher Evaristo de Miranda, who represents the important role of the Brazilian farmer: “There is no professional category that preserves the environment more than the Brazilian farmer”.
Our tropical country has conquered the position of world agricultural power and technological innovations and the efficient management of farmers have transformed poor soils into fertile soils. From the tropicalization of crops, from different cycles, it was possible to take advantage of Brazilian soils in the most varied climatic conditions.
Therefore, it is clear that sustainable agricultural management and practices adopted by Brazilian farmers are examples of environmental protection for the world.
