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