Could a global farmers’ assembly help cut agriculture pollution?

We think of industry and traffic as the main sources of air pollution.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong studied the impacts of changing diet and increased meat production in China. The changes in agricultural production meant more food and better quality. People benefited from fresh fruit and vegetables and improved animal products. Increased meat consumption, more processed food and less whole grains have offset the initial gains.

Air pollution has been caused by the ammonia from animal waste and the fertilisers used to grow animal feed crops, due to the quadrupling of China's meat production between 1980 and 2010. The air pollution from the agricultural changes was thought to have caused tens of thousands of deaths. People in poorer areas were the most affected by the effects.

A farmer burns straw stubble in a field. Money Sharma is pictured.

Air pollution from farming is a problem in other countries. Farmers burning crop waste makes air pollution worse in Delhi. In western Europe, the most polluted time of the year is in the spring.

Reducing meat consumption is an answer. It is possible to decrease production. The Dutch government has a programme to buy out cattle farmers.

James Rebanks describes in his book English pastoral how animal waste was used on the fields and crops to reduce the need for artificial fertiliser. A report by the UK Air Quality Expert Group stated that ammonia emissions could be reduced by up to 60 percent by better management. This includes covering the stores, redesigning the animal housings, and using tools to place the manure on the ground. Trees can help stop the spread of ammonia by capturing it. Chickens are kept under tree cover which can trap up to 40% of the ammonia from chicken farming.

A global methane pact was agreed at Cop26, which will increase pressure to reduce air pollutants from agriculture and especially livestock farming. A growing number of national and local climate assembly have brought together members of the public to learn, debate and prioritize solutions to the climate emergency. Farmers are problem solvers. Is it time for a climate change?