Date post: | 28-Jun-2015 |
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NCCARF Adaptation Research NetworkPRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Interface between mitigation and adaptation
in primary industries
Richard Eckard, Snow Barlow, Peter Grace, Peter Hayman, Richard Harper
Workshop Program
• Presentations to set the scene– Richard Harper, Murdoch University– Bram Govaerts , CIMMYT– Pat Wall, CIMMYT
• Facilitated group discussions– List key conflicts, synergies and challenges– Developing solutions or strategies– Report back
• Synthesis by the PIARN team
Background
• At a global scale – Smith and Olesen (2010) suggest synergies
between mitigation and adaptation• At a local and regional scale – Significant conflicts need to be addressed
• Climate change itself could lead to increased– Enteric methane– Nitrous oxide – Soil carbon respiration
Smith & Olesen 2010; Eckard et al. 2010
Examples of Global Synergies
• Reducing emissions– Less enteric CH4 = improved C and energy efficiency
• Improved feed conversion efficiency
– Less N2O = improved N use efficiency• Improved water and air quality• Reducing input costs
• Building soil carbon– Improve productivity– Reduce soil erosion– Conserving soil moisture
Smith & Olesen 2010
Examples of Global Conflicts
• Building soil carbon– Productive soils need rapid soil C ‘turnover’– Long term sequestration >100 yr C ‘turnover’– Requires nutrients esp N– Warmer future climates -> higher soil C and N loss
• Feedstocks for bio-energy– Competes with land for food– Increased N2O and C loss– Reduces residue return to soil
Smith & Olesen 2010, Eckard & Cullen 2011
Regional and local conflicts
Australian examples
• Shift from grazing to cropping in SW Victoria – Adaptation to lower rainfall– Large losses of soil C and organic N as N2O
• Dairy pastures in SE Australia– Earlier onset of summer plus warmer winter– More N fertiliser in warmer winter to offset loss of
early summer growth– More N2O loss
Regional and local conflicts
Australian examples
• Shift from C3 to C4 grasses with warming– More resilient pasture systems– Lower forage quality thus increased methane
• Shift to annual based systems– To manage climate uncertainty– More soil C and N2O loss?
Regional and local synergies
Australian examples
• Carbon offset income– Lower intensity farming becomes more profitable
• Adaptation to lower or more variable rainfall– More conservative stocking rates – More targeted N fertiliser inputs – Shift to more resilient crop and pasture species
• Native grasses -> Deeper rooted & less N –> less leaching –> less N2O
• Adaptation to heat stress – Plant more trees for shade and shelter – More carbon sequestration in landscape
• Minimum tillage– Increased soil carbon, reduced N2O– Better water holding capacity
Summary
• Short-term adaptation to mitigation policies can create conflicts with long-term climate adaptation– BUT
• Synergies exist between adaptation and mitigation
• Identify the conflicts and synergies– Maximise synergies– Minimise the conflicts– The focus of this workshop