One sector of the economy is leading the way in innovation as we move closer to achieving net zero emissions: agriculture. There has never been a greater need for sustainable farming methods because climate change is affecting animal output and crop yields.
According to the United Nations, global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by approximately 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a critical threshold to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. (1)
Innovative technologies such as CRISPR provide some hope for this project. CRISPR, in contrast to conventional GMO techniques, enables precise gene editing, providing a new toolkit for agriculture without introducing foreign DNA. Faster breeding of crops with improved characteristics like resistance to disease, drought, and even self-fertilization will result from this.
The advantages might be enormous. AI technologies are being used by businesses such as Benson Hill to maximize crop production and protein content while lowering the need for energy- and water-intensive processing procedures.
In the meantime, scientists at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) are investigating methods to improve plant photosynthesis in order to more effectively absorb and store carbon dioxide.
There is a revolution happening in livestock farming as well. Businesses like Acceligen are using CRISPR to develop calves that are more resilient to heat and sickness, which lowers methane emissions and enhances animal welfare.
However, the route to net zero agriculture is becoming more apparent with the combined efforts of scientists, decision-makers, and agricultural stakeholders.
Still currently there are over 30 large-scale CCS facilities globally, capturing and storing millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. CCS technologies play a crucial role in achieving net zero emissions by capturing CO2 from industrial processes and power generation before it enters the atmosphere. (2)
It's critical that we strike a balance between accountability and creativity as we travel this path. The potential for CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies to completely change our food system is enormous, but only if we can make sure that they are used responsibly and safely.
By 2050, it is projected that global net zero emissions are required to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts aimed at reaching 1.5°C. This ambitious goal entails reducing all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions to a level where they are balanced by absorption or removal from the atmosphere, effectively achieving a state of net zero emissions. (3)
Agriculture has a bright future since new technology are making it possible to adopt more environmentally friendly methods.
We can develop a more robust and environmentally friendly food system for future generations by utilizing CRISPR and other technological breakthroughs.
Resources:
International Energy Agency. An updated roadmap to Net Zero Emissions by 2050 – World Energy Outlook 2022 – Analysis. IEA. Published 2022. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2022/an-updated-roadmap-to-net-zero-emissions-by-2050
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