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Data year: 2023· Sources: CDP, IEA, EPA
12%
of global emissions
6.7
Gt CO2e / year
95
tCO2e / $M revenue
20%
Scope 3 share
Average emissions intensity for agriculture & food production companies (2023 data)
| Company Size | tCO2e / employee | tCO2e / $M revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Smallholder farm (< 5 hectares) | 8 | 130 |
| Mid-size commercial farm | 25 | 95 |
| Large agribusiness | 45 | 70 |
Smallholder farm (< 5 hectares)
8
tCO2e / employee
130
tCO2e / $M rev
Mid-size commercial farm
25
tCO2e / employee
95
tCO2e / $M rev
Large agribusiness
45
tCO2e / employee
70
tCO2e / $M rev
Key decarbonization actions for the agriculture & food production sector
Regenerative agriculture practices (no-till, cover crops)
15-30% reduction + carbon sequestration
Precision fertilizer application
10-20% reduction in N2O emissions
Feed additives to reduce methane from livestock
20-30% reduction in enteric fermentation
Agroforestry and silvopasture
Carbon sequestration of 1-5 tCO2/ha/year
Biogas from manure and crop residues
50-80% reduction in manure methane + energy generation
Agriculture is the sector with the least corporate climate action and disclosure, partly because emissions are diffuse and measurement is complex.
Agriculture accounts for about 12% of global GHG emissions directly, rising to 21-37% when including land use change, food processing, transport, and waste.
Livestock (especially cattle) account for about 40% of agricultural emissions through enteric fermentation (methane) and manure. Fertilizer use contributes 25% through nitrous oxide emissions.
Yes, through regenerative practices like no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry. Soil can sequester 0.5-3 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year under the right management.
Organic farming avoids synthetic inputs but doesn't necessarily have lower emissions per unit of food. Low-carbon farming focuses specifically on reducing GHG emissions through precision agriculture, feed additives, and renewable energy.
Data represents global averages for 2023. Actual emissions vary by company, region, and methodology.