The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 10-12% of the anthropogenic total, primarily through methane from livestock, nitrous oxide from soils, and carbon dioxide from energy use and land-use change. Mitigating this impact is critical for achieving climate targets, necessitating a rapid transition to low-carbon farming systems. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and scalability of green innovations and eco-friendly technologies in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of over 150 peer-reviewed studies and life-cycle assessment (LCA) reports, we evaluated a suite of technologies, including precision agriculture, renewable energy integration, biochar application, alternative protein sources, and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Our findings indicate that integrated technological packages can reduce the carbon footprint of crop and livestock systems by 30-60% compared to conventional practices. Precision agriculture technologies, such as variable rate application and GPS-guided machinery, demonstrated emission reductions of 15-25% through optimized input use. The adoption of solar and wind power for on-farm operations showed the potential to decarbonize energy-intensive processes like irrigation. Biochar application emerged as a highly promising carbon-negative technology, sequestering up to 2-3 tons of CO2-equivalent per hectare annually while improving soil health. However, significant barriers to widespread adoption persist, including high initial capital costs, a lack of technical knowledge among farmers, and underdeveloped policy and market incentives. We conclude that while a portfolio of powerful green innovations exists, a synergistic approach combining technological deployment, supportive policy frameworks, and consumer-driven market shifts is essential to catalyse their widespread adoption and realize the profound mitigation potential of a decarbonized agricultural sector.

green innovation, environmental performance, agriculture, carbon footprint, water, sustainable

environmental engineering

Presentation: poster