McKinsey & Company: sustainable agriculture at a crossroads

The report, titled ’The Agricultural Transition: Building a Sustainable Future’, highlights that approximately 50 percent of the necessary reduction in on-farm agricultural emissions for a 1.5°C pathway can be achieved at a cost-neutral or ROI-positive level today. However, further progress requires addressing key obstacles.

The study emphasizes that while many sustainable opportunities exist, reaching an adoption tipping point necessitates incentives such as carbon pricing at approximately $ 150 per ton. Currently, only 1 percent of carbon credits are associated with agriculture, and private investment in sustainable agricultural technology has seen a significant decline.

The report underscores the need for cost reductions in sustainable farming practices to encourage widespread adoption, particularly among smallholder farmers who contribute to a significant portion of global food production. McKinsey’s analysis reveals that some of the most effective decarbonization measures, such as feed additives and anaerobic digesters, are also among the most expensive to implement. However, there are already ROI-positive measures available today, including direct rice seeding, n-inhibitors, and variable rate fertilization.

Investment in training

To drive behavior change and adoption of sustainable practices, the report recommends investment in training, transition financing, and supply chain traceability to enable green premiums. McKinsey identifies 28 measures with high potential for agricultural decarbonization, stressing the need for consistent investment in sustainable agriculture innovation. Furthermore, McKinsey highlights that land conversion for agriculture, methane emissions from livestock, and agricultural energy use collectively account for 74 percent of all agricultural emissions. Achieving the 1.5˚C pathway will require action beyond the farm, including land use changes, dietary shifts, and reducing food loss and waste.

Levering precision farming approaches

Joshua Katz, a representative from McKinsey, emphasizes that while there are clear pathways to achieving a 1.5˚C target on the farm through sustainable measures, economic and behavioral barriers hinder broad adoption, particularly in developing countries and among smallholder producers. He suggests that novel transition financing incentives, farmer training, and increased investment in research and development can accelerate the adoption of sustainable farming practices. For example, by leveraging new technology and precision farming approaches, the global agricultural community can address climate challenges and contribute to a more sustainable future.