Farmers on the front foot in Copenhagen

The International Federation of Agricultural Producers released a Declaration this week. It is called "Farmers’ solutions to climate change - proposals for including agriculture in a post-Kyoto agreement". (The NFF is a member of the IFAP).

It calls for Agriculture to be included as a full member of the post-Kyoto agreement, with full consideration of the unique contribution it can make and the unique challenges it faces.

HIGHLIGHTS:

"THE SPECIFICITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR HAS TO BE RECOGNIZED

"• Agriculture is different by nature and must be differentiated from other sectors
Most of agriculture’s green house gas (GHG) emissions are directly linked to natural biological cycles. The future accounting framework should allow a distinction to be made between anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic emissions. Farmers cannot be held accountable for natural biological processes.

"• The origin, monitoring and reporting of emissions from agricultural land is inherently different from those associated with fossil fuels. Agriculture should not be penalized for natural emissions that are beyond human control, independent from management effects. Natural emissions are due to climate conditions such as variable rainfall, drought and bushfires.

"==> Agriculture cannot compete with other sectors in terms of cost-efficiency in reducing GHG emissions, unless its carbon sequestration and displacement potential are recognised."

DESIRED OUTCOMES:

"Specifically, farmers represented in IFAP are seeking the following desired outcomes from the negotiations

• Official recognition of agriculture as a sector that is adversely affected by the effects of climate change and, at the same time, as a sector with a huge potential to provide solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

• A commitment for a substantial increase in investments in and support for agriculture. The sector must be prioritised in international and national strategies as well as in budgets in order to increase agriculture’s resilience to climate change while boosting economic growth.

• Support for the full integration of agriculture in the post-Kyoto agreement. Agriculture being a cross-cutting issue, it should be mainstreamed under all the different components of the Bali Action Plan and beyond.

• Recognition of the specific characteristics and needs of agriculture in the post-Kyoto agreement in order to take full advantage of the sequestration and adaptation potential of the agricultural sector. The current Kyoto accounting rules do not reflect these specificities.

• Establishment of an appropriate financial mechanism to reward farmers for the carbon sequestration and ecosystem services that mitigate climate change, providing them with the right financial incentives to adopt the most sustainable practices.

• Recognition of Farmers’ Organizations as partners, as the link between farming communities and the international carbon market, and as the link to the international institutions. "