Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural food production to supply Indian diets: Implications for climate change mitigation.
Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. The growing global population is putting pressure on agricultural production systems that aim to secure food production while minimising GHG emissions. In this study, the GHG emissions associated with the production of major food commodities in India are calculated using the Cool Farm Tool. GHG emissions, based on farm management for major crops (including cereals like wheat and rice, pulses, potatoes, fruits and vegetables) and livestock-based products (milk, eggs, chicken and mutton meat), are quantified and compared. Livestock and rice production were found to be the main sources of GHG emissions in Indian agriculture with a country average of 5.65 kg CO2eq kg-1rice, 45.54 kg CO2eq kg-1mutton meat and 2.4 kg CO2eq kg-1milk. Production of cereals (except rice), fruits and vegetables in India emits comparatively less GHGs with <1 kg CO2eq kg-1product. These findings suggest that a shift towards dietary patterns with greater consumption of animal source foods could greatly increase GHG emissions from Indian agriculture. A range of mitigation options are available that could reduce emissions from current levels and may be compatible with increased future food production and consumption demands in India.
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
Sylvia H
SH
Vetter
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Sustainable Intensification Program, NASC Complex, New Delhi 110012, India.
Tek B
TB
Sapkota
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
Jon
J
Hillier
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Sustainable Intensification Program, Apdo, Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
Clare M
CM
Stirling
Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Jennie I
JI
Macdiarmid
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health, London WC1H 0PD, UK.
Lukasz
L
Aleksandrowicz
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health, London WC1H 0PD, UK.
Rosemary
R
Green
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health, London WC1H 0PD, UK.
Edward J M
EJ
Joy
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health, London WC1H 0PD, UK.
Alan D
AD
Dangour
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
Pete
P
Smith
Agriculture; Cool Farm Tool; Greenhouse gas emissions; Indian diets; Sustainability