Agrifood systems contribute a substantial proportion of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recently available country-level estimates suggest that agrifood systems currently contribute 16-18 GtCO2eq annually, or about 30% of total GHG emissions. Despite the magnitude and diversity of GHG emissions from agrifood systems, there are no internationally coordinated initiatives within the scientific community aimed at standardizing system boundaries, harmonizing methodological approaches, and formulating transparent protocols for quantifying GHG emissions and removals across all agrifood system activities. This gap can lead to divergent assessments of where to target mitigation interventions, as well as confusion about how to assess their efficacy and monitor their impact over time in line with stated net-zero goals. Recent literature studies suggested that an internationally coordinated process should advance scientific consensus in four key areas: definitions of agrifood systems emissions boundaries and nomenclature; protocols to allocate broader sectoral emissions to agrifood systems; prioritization of critical research areas to enhance activity data and emissions factors; and the development of a balanced framework for estimating and monitoring the impact of mitigation interventions in light of other agrifood systems imperatives.

TUBIELLO Francesco;  CRIPPA Monica;  KARL Kevin;  ROSENZWEIG Cynthia; 

2026-07-02

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

JRC140154

978-92-5-140111-8 (online),   

2664-6137 (online),   

https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/cb3ecf16-366a-475e-9764-c71d9eb49a07,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC140154,   

10.4060/cd6901en (online),