Diageo: Climate-Smart Farming & Agrifood Decarbonisation
The global agrifood system is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agricultural and food systems were responsible for about a third of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2022, global agrifood systems emissions totalled 16.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gt CO₂eq), which is an increase of 10% since 2000.
This figure includes emissions from the entire value chain, including crop and livestock production, land use changes, food processing transportation and waste.
Livestock and fisheries contribute 30% of food-related GHG emissions, while crop production accounts for a quarter.
The supply chain, which includes processing, packaging and distribution, is responsible for 18%.
If these emissions continue unchecked, they could be enough to push the global temperature rise beyond the 2°C threshold, even if all fossil fuel emissions were to stop.
Therefore, a comprehensive approach is required to decarbonise the sector, involving regenerative farming, renewable energy supply chain efficiencies, consumer action and technological advancements.
The role of regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is a key strategy for climate-smart farming, focusing on improving soil health, biodiversity and the natural sequestration of carbon. In contrast to conventional farming methods that can degrade soil and interfere with natural cycles, regenerative practices aim to build soil organic matter.
Techniques such as cover cropping, reduced tillage crop rotations, composting and agroforestry can turn agricultural soils into effective carbon sinks
By changing land management practices through methods like agroforestry, smarter crop rotations and soil amendments such as biochar emissions can be reduced while also improving resilience.
Biochar, a type of charcoal made from organic waste, can enhance soil health, store carbon over the long term and lessen the dependency on synthetic fertilisers.
Agroforestry, the practice of integrating trees into crop and grazing lands, helps to increase biodiversity and soil carbon.
Decarbonisation from farm to fork
Integrating renewable energy and bioenergy on farms helps reduce emissions from agricultural operations and can convert waste into a resource.
Renewable sources can power machinery, water pumps and processing facilities, displacing fossil fuels.
Bioenergy derived from agricultural residues can provide power for farms and nearby communities.
As climate-related events become more frequent, adapting is as important as mitigation. Developing and implementing resilient crops, livestock and farming systems can help protect producers from the impacts of drought, heat, flooding and pests.
Beyond the farm gate, food supply chains, which include processing, transport, packaging and retail, account for around 18% of total food-related emissions.
In response, large food producers are working to decarbonise their value chains by engaging with suppliers, adopting cleaner logistics and using lower-emission packaging.
Diageo, for example, employs sustainable agriculture practices for ingredients used in products like Guinness.
Consumer choices and technological innovation
Technology offers powerful tools for climate-smart agriculture. Solutions using remote sensing, artificial intelligence, blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help farmers and agribusinesses optimise resource use, identify inefficiencies and verify sustainability claims.
Consumer decisions also play a crucial role in reducing emissions from the food system.
By minimising food waste, adopting more plant-rich diets and choosing sustainably certified products, consumers can influence the entire food chain from production to retail.
Corporations such as General Mills, Nestlé and Bayer are establishing regenerative, circular and technologically advanced systems that prioritise both decarbonisation and resilience.
