Press Releases

Field to Market Opens Public Comment for Proposed Revision to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric

March 30, 2017

Feedback Solicited on Proposed Revision to the Nitrous Oxide Emissions Component of Field to Market’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric which Seeks to Improve Accuracy of Field-Level Emissions Estimate and Recognize Growers’ Nutrient Stewardship Efforts

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture announced today the release for public comment of a proposed revision to the nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions component of the Fieldprint® Platform’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric, which can be accessed either through the online Fieldprint® Calculator or through associated farm management software that integrates Field to Market’s sustainability metrics and algorithms. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric is one of eight sustainability indicators assessed in Field to Market’s Supply Chain Sustainability Program, an unparalleled framework that helps the food and agricultural supply chain benchmark sustainability performance, catalyze continuous improvement and enables brands and retailers to characterize the sustainability of key sourcing regions.

Current Approach for Calculating N2O Emissions
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric currently in use calculates field-level GHG emissions for commodity crop production in the United States. Developed and adopted in 2009, the scope of the metric evaluates all emissions related to the annual production of a given crop and includes emissions from energy used in all activities from pre-planting to the first point of sale; emissions embedded in seed, fertilizer and crop protectants; and emissions of N2O from soils. The public comment period applies only to the proposed revision of the N2O component of this metric. The current approach follows a simple IPCC Tier 1 emissions factor applied universally to all crops to estimate N2O emissions.

Summary of Proposed Revision to N2O Component
The proposed revision to the N2O component of Field to Market’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric would adjust the N2O emissions estimate through a two-step process. First, a database of published results from the USDA hybrid model will be used to adjust the emissions factors based on crop, geographic location, soil texture and nitrogen application rate. This first step will apply for all crops in Field to Market’s Supply Chain Sustainability Program. Where sufficient peer-reviewed research is available, a second step will be implemented to introduce an emissions modifier based on nitrogen management practices. Currently, the practice system modifiers are available for corn, soybean and wheat production in different regions of the United States. The companion document describes the scientific justification, background literature, research and data that support this approach.

This revision is being considered for two primary advantages over Field to Market’s current approach. First, it improves the accuracy of the field-level N2O emissions estimate by integrating a more specific emissions factor based on best available science and simulation models. Second, it provides greater opportunity for growers to use their Fieldprint analysis to identify possible improvements in field management practices that can reduce their Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric score over time.

Process and Timeline
As an ISEAL subscriber, any changes to Field to Market’s metric calculations undergo a multi-step review process, followed by a public comment period, prior to implementation in the Fieldprint Platform.

This revision is the culmination of an effort initiated in 2015, which started a nearly two-year development process in collaboration with the scientific community, under the leadership of Dr. Clifford Snyder, Nitrogen Program Director at the International Plant Nutrition Institute.

Together, this body submitted an earlier version of the proposed revision to Field to Market in the summer of 2016. This proposal was then peer-reviewed by two external expert scientific reviewers selected by Field to Market as well as by Field to Market’s Metrics Committee, an elected, multi-stakeholder governance body comprised of equal representation from Field to Market’s grower, agribusiness, brands and retail, civil society and affiliate (public sector and academia) membership sectors. An updated version of the proposed revision was re-submitted to Field to Market in December 2016 and has undergone a second round of review through Field to Market’s Metrics Committee and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Metric subgroup.

The proposed revision is now open for public comment through May 5, 2017. Following this period of public comment, the proposed revision will be presented for final approval by Field to Market’s Board of Directors for implementation into the Fieldprint Platform.

Download the proposed revision and accompanying documentation.

Please send any feedback to comments@fieldtomarket.org  by May 5, 2017.

(Please note, if you had any technical difficulties submitting your feedback, please retry sending to comments@fieldtomarket.org or submitting through the Contact Us page on our website)

ABOUT FIELD TO MARKET

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture® brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, feed, beverage, restaurant, and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring, and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber, and fuel production. Field to Market comprises around 200 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion. 

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