Development towards low carbon and sustainable agriculture in Finland is possible with moderate changes in land use and diets

Abstract

Food security under climate change, several sustainability problems, and ambitious climate targets are considered challenges for agriculture and food sectors in many countries. Since agricultural production and its land use produce appr. 20% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Finland, reducing agricultural GHG emissions is important for meeting national target of climate neutrality by 2035. Healthier food diets, maintenance of biodiversity, and reduced nutrient leaching from agriculture are also required for a more sustainable food economy. This paper aims to show how agriculture in Finland, traditionally dominated by livestock production, could decrease GHG emissions significantly and simultaneously respond to other sustainability concerns. Our results, based on economic modelling of the agricultural sector, suggest that moderate changes in food diets and land use can reduce GHG emissions of agriculture by more than 40% by 2050 if productivity growth and policy changes support the overall change in the agriculture and food sector. Adaptation to climate change, e.g. more higher crop yields efficient input use, is necessary for productivity growth. Decreased demand for meat and decreased cultivation of feed crops would decrease GHG emissions and free up land for carbon sequestration through afforestation. Whilst healthier food diets imply less livestock and increased imports of protein crops for food, a reasonable volume of livestock production is useful for maintaining food security, grasslands, crop rotations, soil carbon, and biodiversity. We conclude that transition to low carbon and more sustainable agriculture is possible without risking food security at northern latitudes.

Effective Economic Model for Greenhouse Facilities Management and Digitalization

“…The findings revealed that H8 was supported, with crop output prices exhibiting a strong positive association with profit levels. This aligns with research across cereals [66], horticulture [67], and floriculture [68], where favorable pricing supports farm financial viability. However, smallholders in Uzbekistan often lack market linkages to receive premium values.…”

Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Production—Experience from Land Consolidation in Poland and Finland

“…Such activities are in line with the directions of the European Green Deal and will certainly translate into reduced energy consumption and a lower carbon footprint [9,73]. Authors [74] suggest that moderate changes in food diets and land use in Finland can reduce GHG emissions from agriculture by more than 40% by 2050. In the period 2021-2030, the collective target of EU Member States is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from the 2005 level by 2030 [5].…”

The impact of green and low carbon agricultural production on farmers’ income in minority areas: a case study of Y Town, Zhijin County, Guizhou Province

“…The experience of village cadres, agricultural income, degree of organization, business scale, and knowledge of fertilization technology are positively and significantly correlated with farmers adoption behaviors (Hou et al, 2019). The reduction in demand for meat and the cultivation of feed crops will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and release land for carbon sequestration through afforestation (Heikki and Janne, 2022).…”