Climate Neutral and Resilient Farming Systems

This book presents evidence-based research on climate-neutral and resilient farming systems and further provides innovative and practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change. Intensive farming systems are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to global warming and the acceleration of climate change. As paddy rice farming is one of the largest contributors, and environmentally damaging farming systems, it will be a particular focus of this book. The mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions needs to be urgently addressed to achieve the 2°C target adopted by COP21 and the 2015 Paris Agreement, but this is not possible if local and national level innovations are not accompanied by international level cooperation, mutual learning and sharing of knowledge and technologies. This book, therefore, brings together international collaborative research experiences on climate-neutral and resilient farming systems compiled by leading scientists and experts from Europe, Asia and Africa. The chapters present evidence-based research and innovative solutions that can be applied or upscaled in different farming systems and regions across the world. Chapters also present models and technologies that can be used for practical implementation at the systemic level and advance the state-of-the-art knowledge on carbon-neutral farming. Combining theory and practice, this interdisciplinary book provides guidance which can inform and increase cooperation between researchers from various countries on climate-neutral and resilient farming systems. Most importantly, the volume provides recommendations which can be put into practice by those working in the agricultural industry, especially in developing countries, where they are attempting to promote climate-neutral and resilient farming systems. The book will be of great interest to students and academics of sustainable agriculture, food security, climate mitigation and sustainable development, in addition to policymakers and practitioners working in these areas. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Udaya Sekhar Nagothu is Research Professor and Director at the Centre for International Development, NIBIO (Norsk Institutt for Biookonomi/Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research), Norway. He is the editor of The Bioeconomy Approach (2020), Agricultural Development and Sustainable Intensification (2018), Climate Change and Agricultural Development (2016) and Food Security and Development (2015).

1. Climate change impacts on agriculture: Challenges and options to reduce emissions through climate-neutral and resilient farming systems 2. Precision-based soil and nutrient management tools for enhancing soil health while reducing environmental footprint 3. Organizational alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation management in rice by water user groups for reducing methane emission and water saving 4. Integrated pest management in rice and the potential to contribute to climate-neutral and resilient farming systems 5. System of rice intensification: Empowering farmers to work with nature to achieve productive, resilient and climate-neutral farming systems in rice-based landscapes 6. Direct seeded rice: A potential climate-neutral and resilient farming system 7. Carbon-neutral farming solutions in rice farming systems in Europe 8. Agroecological farming approaches that enhance resilience and mitigation to climate change in vulnerable farming systems 9. Transitioning toward climate-neutral and resilient smallholder farming systems: An institutional perspective 10. Enhancing and scaling climate-neutral and resilient farming systems: A summary and recommendations