COP26 attracted all kinds of folk, including the NFU

There has been a focus on reducing fossil fuel production and use at this year’s climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, but two National Farmers Union delegates to COP26 say more attention could be paid to the agricultural sector.

“There has been a lot of focus on innovation, which is supposed to save us,” said Glenn Wright, who farms in Saskatchewan. “While I’m encouraged that we want to innovate to make things more efficient and to try to be more resilient to extreme weather, I do think we have to focus on doing the smart things first.”

That includes using the tools already at hand to reduce carbon emissions while improving farming techniques.

NFU delegate Anastasia Fyk from Garland, Man., said there has been a lot of talk about the use of carbon capture and storage and carbon offsets as a way of managing greenhouse emissions.

“Which are false solutions,” she said. “With carbon offsets, it’s basically paying people to keep polluting so it’s another green washing false promise.”

What’s needed is a re-examination of the control large corporations have on the agricultural sector, said Wright and Fyk.

Wright said there is a push from corporations advertising things like high-yielding canola crops with no weeds.

“And you’re not a successful farmer unless you are growing 60-bushels-an-acre plus,” he said. “But what I think we forget is they are trying to convince us of that so they can get as many input costs sold as possible. That subjects farmers to more financial risk and leads to more greenhouse gas emissions.”

Fyk added the benefit of those extra yields comes at a price, not just to the overall environment but specifically to the soil.

“We can work much better with them and save a lot more money if our soils are healthy because we can put in less inputs, get an OK yield but get a better net profit,” she said.

It’s an issue that isn’t getting the attention it deserves, said Fyk, with the push for greater production bound to push soil quality to the breaking point.

Wright said discussions about lessening fertilizer use and utilizing better farming techniques to improve soil quality are happening in Glasgow but primarily on the periphery of the main conference.

Regarding improved technology that could be available in the near-future, Wright said there is a realistic hope hydrogen-powered farm vehicles will be on the market sooner than later.

“Coming to COP has convinced me that hydrogen internal combustion engines will probably have a place in agriculture and construction equipment,” said Wright. “I can fully anticipate a day when a combine will be running on green hydrogen produced on the farm by the farmer.”

But while some topics in the agricultural sector might not be getting centre stage attention at the global climate conference, Fyk said the biggest value in attending comes from the conversations with farmers from across the planet.

“My biggest take home is definitely the connections that I’ve made person to person,” said Fyk. “And talking about their agricultural practises and maybe their more traditional practises that we might not have ever been exposed to.”

Wright said those in agriculture who are sticking to traditional methods and who are critical of initiatives such as carbon taxes need to reassess the global landscape when it comes to reducing greenhouse emissions.

“Change is coming and the change is actually going to benefit us,” said Wright. “I think it’s time we realize that agriculture has a role to play and we should all do our part.”

There is a cost for carbon emissions and pollution, one which should be borne by the large corporations that are driving it, said Fyk.

“I would say to the people in the coffeeshop to really look out for where their dollar is going, what they are paying for and who should actually be paying the price for somebody else’s dirty mess,” said Fyk.