Global greenhouse gas cobenefits of US irrigated agriculture.
US irrigation boosts crop yields by up to 39%, avoiding the conversion of 39 million hectares of natural land and providing a net GHG benefit of 6.86 gigatons CO2e.
- Why it matters: Agricultural land use significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, and understanding how irrigation impacts land conversion and emissions is crucial for effective mitigation strategies.
- What they did: The study combines estimates of direct emissions from US irrigation with productivity assessments and a global economic model to evaluate land use change and GHG impacts.
- The result: US irrigation's productivity gains prevent extensive land conversion and result in substantial net GHG reductions, emphasizing the importance of considering both direct and indirect emissions in policy development.