According to a recently released study, food production may account for nearly one-third of all manmade greenhouse gases. If this report is to be believed, then climate change may force farmers to rethink their production methods.

For the past several months, climate change has been at the forefront of global news. After a devastating drought in the United States that crippled agricultural production from California to Ohio was followed up by a massive hurricane that pounded New York and New Jersey, more and more Americans have become convinced that climate change may represent a serious threat.

The CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) study, which will likely increase calls for sustainable agricultural reform, looked at greenhouse gas production across all elements of food production and the food system (including forest clearing and transportation rather than just farming).

In addition to linking production to greenhouse gas, the report suggested several ways that farmers could lessen their environmental footprint by looking into more efficient manufacturing of fertilizers, importing certain foods that can be produced more efficiently overseas, and limiting large-scale production. In addition, the report suggested that changing global diets to embrace more vegetarianism would also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental activists will like use this report, as well as the recent weather patterns in the United States, to push for farm reform and increased agricultural and environmental regulation.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer