Background
Carbon footprint of food in France - Source: The energy and carbon footprint of food in France, ADEME, January 2019
The Paris Agreements, signed five years ago, set up a sustainable and ambitious international framework for cooperation on climate change to limit global warming and achieve a global balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorptions.
France's objective for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions within the framework of the Paris Agreements is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The agricultural sector currently contributes 17% of these emissions, in the form of direct or indirect emissions.
According to various concordant sources (ADEME, Climagri), 2/3 of the carbon footprint of food is linked to crop production.
GHG emissions and absorption in France in 2017 - Source: SITEPA, Stratégie Nationale du Bas Carbone
France has a roadmap: the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC) to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It concerns all sectors of activity and must be supported by everyone: citizens, local authorities and businesses.
Its two ambitions are to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce the carbon footprint of the French.
Guidelines are then put in place to implement the transition to a low-carbon economy in all sectors of activity, including agriculture.
To achieve this, there are now carbon budgets, emission ceilings not to be exceeded in 5-year periods up to 2033.
The Low-Carbon Label
Launched by the government in 2019, it enables greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration projects in all sectors (forestry, agriculture, transport, construction, waste, etc.) to be certified and economically valued.
Adopted to meet the climate objectives
of the French Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC), the Low-Carbon Label is the first voluntary climate certification framework in France.
Farmers can participate in this label by increasing soil organic matter through various agronomic techniques (agroecology, conservation agriculture).
4 per 1000 study
In June 2019, INRAE delivered a study, commissioned by Ademe and the French Ministry of Food and Agriculture, on the potential for soil carbon storage in France. By mobilizing an original methodology, the study was able to assess this potential and estimate the cost of implementing it region by region, with regard to a target of 4 for 1000. The "4 for 1000 on soils for food security and climate" initiative had been launched at the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change held in Paris in 2015.
The study was conducted by INRAE's Delegation for Collective Scientific Expertise, Forecasting and Studies (DEPE). The BANCO model, combining agronomic simulations and cost calculations, was used to optimize the storage effort to be implemented.
Article written by Maxence, MyEasyCarbon Product Manager at MyEasyFarm.
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