Farmers call for government support to cut emissions

New report argues financial incentives are needed alongside improved guidelines on how to limit carbon and methane emissions

Downing Street needs to pay farmers to cut carbon emissions, help them reduce pollution from cattle manure and spend more money on research, leading agricultural bodies have this week claimed.

A report entitled Part of the Solution from a new Climate Change Task Force that is backed by the National Farmers' Union (NFU), the Country Land and Business Association and the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) argued that UK farmers needed financial incentives to invest in green technologies designed to curb their carbon emissions and reduce environmental degradation.

"Agriculture realises the central role it has to play in dealing with the challenges posed by climate change and the industry is committed [to facing those challenges]," said NFU president Peter Kendall. "But to ensure we maximise the full potential of the opportunities available, the government has a key role to play alongside us."

The report specifically called for research into the environmental impact of farming; guidelines to improve nitrogen efficiency; financial incentives to aid carbon management in farms; and a standardised approach to limiting methane emissions from cattle and using agricultural waste matter as a biofuel.

The report said that the proposed "digestive standard" would make it easier for farmers to embrace methods of anaerobic digestion, which allows cattle manure to be turned into energy for heat and power, and for harmful methane gases emitted from the manure to be treated before their release into the atmosphere.

Researchers are currently working on nutritional supplements and feeding techniques designed to limit methane emissions from cow manure – which are around 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide – but adoption of such practices remain rare.

Earlier this year, former environment minister David Miliband also hinted that the government may introduce new green taxes and incentives for farmers as it seeks to apply the polluter pays principle to the agricultural sector.

David Caffall, chief executive of the AIC, said that there were currently around 4,000 advisers trained in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, but hinted that there was a need for more support for farmers still unclear on the best practices required to limit both carbon and methane emissions.