G8 Environmental Futures Forum 2000

Detailed Description of Best Practices
Japan No.6

I. Title of the Best Practice

Reduction of GHG Emissions from Agriculture and Stockbreeding Sectors

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. Features of Reduction of GHG Emissions from Agricultural and Stockbreeding Sectors

1. Background
Agricultural and stockbreeding sectors are very dependent on the surrounding natural environment. Accordingly, GHG emissions from those sectors are largely affected by it. This dependence results in constraints in assessing GHG emissions from these sectors, and in implementing appropriate measures to reduce them. At present, research is being conducted for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions and implementing measures on a practical level.

2. Contents of the practice
(1) The agricultural sector
A research has revealed that careful water management
(*1) in Japanese paddy fields can lower methane emission by 20~50%.
*1:intermittent irrigation after midsummer drainage

Even in ill-drained paddy fields, where careful water management as above is impossible, methane emission is expected to be reduced by their reformation (*2) into well-drained condition (a research to reveal this effect is going on).
*2:introduction of canals and underdrain systems into paddy field

  • Research on other water management systems (e.g. prolonging intermittent irrigation period)
  • Research about treatment of organic matter (e.g. composting and comparison on recycling of well-composted and raw straw buried in the paddy fields)
  • Research on other water management systems (e.g. prolonging intermittent irrigation period)
  • Research about treatment of organic matter (e.g. comparison between well-composted and raw straw buried in the paddy fields)
  • Research to reduce nitrous oxide emissions: Field experiments have produced the following results for improving fertilizers and better methods of application.
  • Using controlled release fertilizers, nitrous oxide emissions vary from a 30 percent decrease to a 10 percent increase, compared to easily soluble chemical fertilizers. The levels of emissions vary depend on water and soil conditions.
  • Use of fertilizer with nitrification inhibitors(NI) has been shown to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 10 to 30 percent, compared to the use of easily soluble chemical fertilizers.
  • The adoption of deep application of fertilizer in upland fields, has shown a reduction of nitrous oxide emissions of 50 percent when chemical fertilizer with ammonium-nitrogen are used. However, the same method results in increases in emissions when organic fertilizers are used.
  • Using such materials and application methods, it is expected to reduce amount of applied fertilizer itself.

(2) The livestock sector

  • Research into methods to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation of livestock: It has been reported that feeding the livestock fatty acid calcium or fish protein and providing ionophore (antibiotic) have reduced methane emissions, though this is still at the experimental phase.
  • Provision of manure treatment facilities to reduce methane emissions from livestock manure treatment: According to reports from Japan and other countries, fermentation of manure using special facilities can reduce methane emissions per unit of organic matter by more than half.

B. Reasons for Inclusion as a Best Practice

  • It can contribute to the formation of future policies to prevent global warming.
  • It has far reaching effects. In the agricultural sector, the reduction in the environmental burden and the improvement of energy efficiency is possible by improving efficiency in fertilizer use. In the livestock sector, composting of manure can be utilized.

C. Problems and their solutions
1. Agricultural sector

  • GHG emission needs to be evaluated thorough whole cultivation cycle including non-growing season

Research is being continued to quantitatively assess the relationship between GHG emissions and water and soil conditions, and the relationship between the type and the quality of organic matter.
More effective measures are possible after investigating the effects of water management and improvement of fertilization systems on the yields and the quality of crops and the management, such as changes in labor and the economy.

2. Stockbreeding sector
Ways to apply new technologies are being considered based on results of international joint research (on technological development on suppression of methane emissions from the livestock sector) being conducted through a technical committee.
Manure treatment facilities are being systematically improved.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s)
( X ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches-regulations, incentives, etc.)
( ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) Involved
( ) Citizens
( X ) Central government
( ) Local government
( X ) Business

3. Sector(s)
( ) Energy
( ) Residential
( ) Industrial
( ) Transportation
( ) Commerce
( X ) Agriculture/Land Use/ Forestry
( ) Others ( )

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( X ) CO2
( X ) CH4
( X ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( ) Other ( )

IV. List of Attachments

Omitted

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person: Shunichi Nakada
Title:
Organization: Office of Environment Policy Coordination, Administration Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Email: shunichi_nakada1@nm.maff.go.jp
Tel: +81-3-3502-8111 (ext. 2126)
Fax: +81-3-3592-7697
Address: 1-2-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Note: N/A

Detailed Description of Best Practices - Japan No.6

Back to Top image Home