Utilizing tree crops to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions: the case of southern Africa with chronic food insecurity

Global contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission has been estimated to be around 20% for carbon dioxide, 50% for methane and 70% for nitrous oxide. The GHG are emitted from domestic livestock (methane and nitrous oxide), rice cultivation (methane), burning (methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and oxides of nitrogen) and agricultural soils (methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). Smallholder farmers of southern Africa rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, but food production is often inadequate. The use of fossil fuels contributes huge amounts of GHG into atmosphere, but mitigation of GHG emissions due to agriculture is comparatively cost-effective. Fossil fuel substitution by bio-fuels has been recognised as viable mitigation. For southern Africa with chronic food insecurity, bio-fuel research emphasis should be on alternative tree crops adapted to marginal lands rather than field crops such as maize. Planting trees, fruit and fodder trees could improve food security and creates a carbon sink. The use of rapid digestible animal feeds reduces the passage time of food in the digestive system and hence reduces methane production. Perennial tree crops enable to achieve carbon credits. In this paper we present the knowledge and research challenges on the use of tree crops to reduce GHG emissions with southern Africa as a main focus.

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