As the world tries to agree on its next steps towards managing climate change in Durban, South Africa, the NFU has pledged to work with others in the industry to ensure that agriculture’s contribution to tackling the problem is recognised.

The union said the agriculture industry‘s Greenhouse Gas Action Plan is one of a range of initiatives helping farmers and growers produce more while impacting less on the environment.  The plan brings together a range of voluntary actions under the same umbrella, documenting the changes that farmers are making to reduce their carbon footprint and reporting progress against the UK government’s ambitions for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Improving efficiency and productivity, storing carbon in soils and vegetation, and diversifying into low-carbon energy services are just some of the ways NFU members are helping to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions.

NFU climate change adviser Dr Ceris Jones said, "There isn’t much optimism that there will be a new resolution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Durban summit, but we are working with our international colleagues at COPA-COGECA (Brussels) and the World Farmers Organisation to ensure agriculture is seen as part of the solution to this major public problem.

"The more that carbon emissions continue to rise, the greater the chance of changes to our climate. While this will bring some opportunities for our entrepreneurial members, it will also present threats to our production systems and international supply chains.  Agriculture is on the frontline of climate change impacts, so we want to see such risks kept to a minimum."