Bigger harvests haven’t meant dirtier air, thanks to farm efficiency gains, according to a new study from Cornell University researchers. The analysis shows productivity growth has kept agricultural emissions from rising as fast as output, according to the Cornell Chronicle.
Researchers reviewed global data from 1961 to 2021 and found farm productivity jumped 270% while agricultural emissions rose just 45%. Producing more food with fewer inputs — not cutting production — did the heavy lifting in limiting emissions growth.
The findings raise policy stakes. The study warns that slowing investment in agricultural research, especially in the U.S., could stall productivity gains that help rein in emissions while feeding a growing world.
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