Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Agriculture is vital for feeding the world’s growing population but faces the challenge of ensuring food and nutrition security while protecting the environment and sustaining rural livelihoods, according to the OECD.
While agricultural production continues to rise, targeted policies and better practices have reduced environmental impacts in OECD countries. Many farmers now use nutrients, pesticides, water, and energy more efficiently, maintaining productivity with fewer inputs. Techniques such as conservation tillage, improved manure management, and soil testing are more widespread.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity from agriculture in the OECD has declined, with output growing faster than emissions since 1990. Innovation has driven this trend, enabling higher production with similar inputs. However, the pace of progress has slowed over the last decade, and total agricultural emissions are now rising, underscoring the need for further efforts and new technologies to reduce emissions.
Strategies to support climate goals include lowering indirect emissions from land-use change, conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, and boosting carbon sequestration in soils and biomass. Many OECD countries have updated agricultural policies to separate government support from production and to promote sustainable practices via targeted programs, but reforms are inconsistent and debated.
Continued public investment in agricultural research and development is essential to overcome these challenges and support the shift toward more sustainable systems.