The role of agriculture in mitigation of greenhouse gas : the case of palm oil industry

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change have emerged as the two greatest threats to sustainable development. Over the past decade, efforts to reduce GHG emissions come from lower fossil fuel energy consumption. By deploying strategies with greater carbon sequestration in agriculture and agroforestry climate change can be slow down. However as the global economy is still dependent upon use fossil fuels, both producers and consumers are weaning off fossil fuels without causing economic dislocation by rapidly transitioning in the medium - and long - term to renewable energy sources. Concurrently, the increased intensity and frequency of storms, droughts and flooding, altered hydrological cycles and precipitation variances as manifestations of global changes are being tackled as they have implications on agriculture, food production, its availability and security. Thus understanding the global changes in climate patterns, spatial distribution of agri-ecological zones, habitats, distribution of plant diseases and pests, fish population and ocean circulation patterns will benefit food production. For palm oil production, the potential impacts of climate change under rain-fed agriculture present the most significant challenge. The impacts are three-pronged affecting firstly, the bio-physical and environmental aspects where the physiological effects on growth yield of crops, pasture and livestock in term of quality and quantity. Secondly, the socio-economic aspects where the effects is an increase in number of people at risk of hunger and food security. Thirdly, the economic aspects where an understanding of the agro-ecological sensitivity of the crop to climate change requires adaptation efforts made in the management of carbon option in two ways. Agronomic adjustments at the estate level require good agricultural practices (GAP) for batter carbon sequestration to reduce global warming potential. The GAP includes zero tillage in agricultural soils, batter knowledge of soil carbon management of non-CO2 gas abatement like N2O and CH4, and reforestation of idle land with agro-forestry crop like intercropping under oil palm. Policy wise an integrated approach is used to develop cost-effective methods, such as remote sensing, to detect changes in soil organic carbon, employ better resource management for balanced removal of oil palm biomass residues, enhance above-ground and soil carbon, narrow yield gaps, and implement good agriculture practice to raise yield to capatalize on current high prices and rise in consumption patterns for food and fuel. Finally, a life cycle carbon accounting system based on the best science possible and associated uncertainties for soil carbon measurement is attempted.