Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Climate

Module: criteria for adaptation and

mitigationOliver BachSAN Secretariat

obach@sanstandards.org

What human activities cause GHG

emissions?

GHG Industrial sources

Land use sources

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Burning of fossil fuels and cement production

Deforestation and burning of forests

Methane (CH4)Landfills, coal mining, natural gas production

Wetland conversion, Rice paddies, cattle production, wastewater

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Burning of fossil fuels, production of nitric acid

Use of fertilizers, Burning of biomass

Hidrofluorcarbonos (HFCs) Industrial

processes, manufacturing

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Perfluorcarbons (PFCs)

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Sulphur Hexafluorur (SF6)

Electric transmission

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•14% of all GHG emissions from agriculture - erosion, soil tillage, irrigation, fertilizer use, burning of biomass and livestock digestive systems • Including deforestation – nearly 30% of global GHG emissions – mostly due to large scale agribusinesses such as oil palm, soy, cattle, pulpwood plantations• Cattle production contributes up to 18% of all GHG emissions (FAO, 2006) Agriculture’s global

carbon footprint

• Raising temperature will affect sugarcane production: less sugar content, more competition from weeds and more severe rat pests.• Cattle production and rice plantations have been suffering huge losses in the dry Northwest• Extreme floods have affected banana production

Climate Change + Costa Rican Agriculture

CattleProduction

• Cattle land occupies 25% of CR territory, generates 11% of gross product and gives employment to 300.000 people

• Cattle production dominated by traditional production models with monoculture pastures and pasture degradation

• Silvopastoral systems have a 20-40% increased meat or milk production

• Higher bird and butterfly biodiversity

• CATIE: Carbon fixation in NW farms:1. Secondary forests (178,7 t C)

2. Wood plantations (142,4 t C)

3. Improved pastures with high tree density (107,1 t C)

4. Degraded pastures (60,2 t C).

Organic Agriculture in Costa Rica (production

hectares)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

8606 8870 9003 9100

10682

9800

10711

7874 8004 8052

Costa Rica wants to be the first carbon neutral country of the world in 2021

• Domestic organic agriculture products receive same price as conventional products• Agroforestry incentives only for some specific areas through environmental payment services• Coopedota first carbon neutral PAS 2060 certified coffee cooperative• No significant public incentives for low carbon footprint agriculture

Pesticide imports (tons) and agriculture area (100s of ha)

1977 - 2008

SAN Climate Module

SalvaNatura (El Salvador)

Rainforest Alliance

(Costa Rica)

Pronatura Sur (Mexico)

Nature Conservation Foundation

(India)

IMAFLORA (Brazil)

ICADE (Honduras)

Fundación Natura

(Colombia)

FIIT (Guatemala)

Conservación

y Desarrollo (Ecuador)

Sustainable Agriculture

Network

Standard Setter for Rainforest

Alliance Certified™ farms

Farms use sustainable practices that are good for the climate, including…- Increasing land under conservation and

restoration- Maintaining energy efficiency plans- Water conservation and treatment of

wastewater- Planned and efficient application of fertilizers

and priority to organic fertilization- Reduce the amount of waste produced- No cutting of natural forest or

land burning- Increase ground cover

Climate-friendly Agriculture

Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM + Climate Module

• New, additional, robust climate criteria• Add-on module to existing standard

Objectives of the SAN Climate Module

13

Promote reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farms

Encourage increased carbon sequestration in soil and plants

Stimulate greater preparedness for adaptation strategies

Raise climate awareness and create added value for farmers

A comprehensive approach, including:• GHG inventory/measurement of emissions sources• Improved emissions reductions planning and actions• Quantification and inventory of carbon in trees and soils• Risk assessment and strategies to adapt to climate change and extreme weather events

Criteria closely linked between the existing SAN Standards – recognizes and builds on what producers already do

The SAN Climate Module: How it works

Public Consultation

Process (2009-2010)

http://clima.sanstandards.org/

Workshops + field tests: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya

BelgiumBotswana

Cambodia ChileCuba

EcuadorMalaysia

New ZealandParaguay

PhilippinesPortugal

SpainSri Lanka

SwedenUruguayEthiopia

ItalySwitzerland

BoliviaDominic Republic

Honduras Nicaragua

NigeriaCanada

India Netherlands

PanamáVenezuela

Ghana Kenya

El Salvador Indonesia

PeruGermany

United StatesUnited Kingdom

MexicoBrazil

Guatemala Costa Rica

Colombia

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

41 countries and 169

organizations

The SAN Climate Module: How it works

– 15 criteria

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

(1.12) Assess climate risks and vulnerabilities; include plans to adapt to & mitigate climate change.(1.13) Annual records of main GHG sources (1.14) Access information on climate variability and its predicted impacts (1.15) Maps of land use and records of land use changes (1.16) Adaptation and mitigation practices included in training and education programs(1.17) Choose service providers that incorporate climate-friendly practices in their operations

The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria

ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION(2.10) Plant native or adapted species & promote natural regeneration, to reduce vulnerability and prevent degradation.(2.11) Maintain/increase carbon stocks by planting or conserving trees or other woody biomass. Do tree inventories every five years.

WATER CONSERVATION(4.10) Analyze and implement wastewater treatment options that reduce methane emissions from wastewater treatment (4.11) Adapt to water scarcity by practices such as harvesting and storing rainwater and selecting drought tolerant crop varieties.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY(6.21) Be prepared for emergencies and plan response for extreme weather events - prevent damage to people, animals and property.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS(7.7) Initiate/ participate in community’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT (8.10) Reduce nitrous oxide emissions through the efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers.SOIL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION(9.6) Maintain/increase soil carbon stocks by implementing climate-friendly soil management practices.INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT(10.1) Implement organic residue management practices that reduce GHG emissions.

The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria

FOR FARMERS• Increase access to “green” markets and climate responsible businesses• Potential for added product value through differentiation• Position farm for inclusion in government Payment for Environmental Services programs• Help “buffer” farm against climate changes, reduce risk of adverse impacts on production

FOR COMPANIES AND BRANDS• Products in-line with company’s climate-related CSR strategy• A strategic step towards a low-carbon business model• Promote and respond to consumers' demand for low-carbon products

The SAN Climate Module: Benefits

• Carbon-footprinting methodology

• Life Cycle Analysis

• ‘Carbon neutral’ module or label

• Focused to generate Carbon OffsetsThe SAN Climate Module is NOT…

Standard for Sustainable Cattle Production

SystemsINTEGRATED CATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

SUSTAINABLE RANGE AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT

ANIMAL WELFARE REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT

ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CATTLE FARMS