When people talk about climate change, the focus is often on energy, transportation, or deforestation. But there’s one sector that doesn’t get nearly enough credit, agriculture. While farming is sometimes viewed as part of the problem, it also holds incredible potential to be part of the solution. The truth is, how we manage our soils, crops, and land use can either add to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or help store carbon, protect water, and support climate resilience. So, can agriculture really help solve the climate crisis? The answer is yes, if we lean into climate-smart practices and rethink our relationship with the land.
Agriculture’s Role in Emissions and Opportunity
Globally, agriculture accounts for about 10 to 12 percent of all GHG emissions, mainly through:
- Methane from livestock and flooded rice fields
- Nitrous oxide from fertilizer use
- Carbon dioxide from tillage and land-use change
But the same sector can draw carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it into the soil. This process is called carbon sequestration, and it happens when we:
- Increase soil organic carbon
- Restore degraded lands
- Reduce tillage
- Use cover crops and compost
- Rotate diverse crops and integrate livestock
The Soil Is a Climate Tool
Healthy soils act like a sponge, not just for water, but for carbon. By increasing soil organic carbon, we not only store CO₂ but also build better structure, reduce erosion, and support microbial life. Every ton of carbon stored in the soil is a ton that’s not warming the planet.
Farming Smarter, Not Harder
Climate-smart agriculture doesn’t mean more work or more expense. Often, it means smarter timing, improved soil cover, and better use of natural systems. For example:
- Planting cover crops between cash crops keeps the soil protected and alive
- Using compost recycles nutrients and organic matter
- Switching to reduced tillage slows carbon loss and saves fuel
- Managing irrigation more efficiently conserves water in drought-prone regions
These practices also help farms become more resilient to climate extremes like drought, heatwaves, and heavy rains.
Policy and Market Signals Are Changing
Governments and companies are starting to invest in carbon markets, climate-smart grants, and soil health initiatives. Producers who adopt sustainable practices may be eligible for financial incentives, technical support, or market access. That means good environmental choices can also be good economic ones.
A New Narrative
Agriculture is not just a source of food. It’s a powerful climate actor. Farmers, ranchers, and land stewards can lead the way in climate solutions, not by doing everything at once, but by making thoughtful, scalable changes that work for their land. It’s time we stop seeing agriculture only as a challenge and start recognizing it as a climate solution in motion.
Acknowledgment
This article is part of a project funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program, under project number GW25-003.
