25/8/23 00:00

The potential of Argentine agriculture on climate change mitigation

Aapresid and Syngenta disclosed the results of a study which reveals carbon sequestration opportunities and climate change mitigation in agricultural Argentinian soils.

Rosario city, August 10th, 2023 – At the 31° Congress, Aapresid and Syngenta showed the first results in an evidence gap map that reveals the potential of carbon sequestration in agricultural soils and how widespread adoption of methods, such as no-till farming, crops rotation and cover crops would help approach that potential.

These first data were obtained from the joint work agreement between Aapresid and Syngenta. Said data lies in evidence gap maps between current soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration levels and those achievable and potential levels in every region.  

Achievable SOC is that intended when employing carbon sequestration methods, whereas potential SOC is constant and represents the maximum SOC stored in soil, which also depends on type of soil, texture and depth. Both gap maps were obtained through simulation models projected to 20 and 50 years from now. 

Among most relevant results, gap maps revealed that, in average agricultural lands in the country, soils are only at 46% of their soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration capacity. 

“Widespread adoption of methods, such as uninterrupted no-till farming, grass in crop rotation, cover crops and balanced nutrient management, would help to close the gap between achievable and potential. This would represent a rise between 15-20% of current SOC levels, allowing to mitigate more than half of emissions related to agriculture,” claimed Marcos Bradley, Director General of Syngenta Crop Protection in Latin America South.

“Leading this project alongside Syngenta is very important, since it will allow us to know where we stand in relation to SOC levels and what values we can aim at in each region. On the other hand, it's key to understand how we can adjust strategies to maximize sequestration in every environment (intensification level, diversification, nutrition, etc.),” said Marcelo Torres, Chair of the Argentine No-Till Farmers Association (Aapresid in Spanish). “Following that path, the contribution of Aapresid producers that have been employing methods related to sequestration is essential because it leads the way toward that desired ‘possible’. Finally, this project will facilitate the creation of tools to guarantee our role concerning climate change mitigation and our position in the world,” he added.

“This map needs to be nourished with data and information in order to be strengthened even further. Therefore, we invite producers to join us. Next year, alongside Aapresid, we will be digitalizing this map, as digital technology is the tool that allows sustainability to be traceable and scalable,” add Marcos Bradley.

Figure. Carbon gaps (t C/ha at 0-11,81in): (A) between current and achievable levels; (B) between achievable and potential levels; (C) between current and potential levels.