This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Climate change has been wreaking havoc on farmers for years, disrupting planting seasons, causing post-harvest losses, and leading to livestock deaths and diseases due to prolonged droughts and excess rainfall.
At the recent COP25 summit in Madrid, Spain, animal health experts highlighted the impact of climate change on livestock, citing diseases such as Rift Valley fever, bluetongue, and African horse sickness as common occurrences during cold and rainy seasons.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) has been held annually since 1992, bringing together delegations from over 180 countries to discuss strategies for tackling climate change.
However, this year's negotiations were marked by contentious issues, including the debate over whether farmers should continue rearing livestock.
Some scientists and environmental activists argue that beef and dairy production is responsible for rising greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. According to Greenpeace International scientist Reyes Tirado, the production and consumption of dairy and beef account for 14.5% of global carbon emissions, equivalent to all direct emissions from the transport sector.
Meanwhile, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on climate change and land identified agriculture as responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, with the meat industry being the highest emitter of the sector.
However, farmers dispute the blame, arguing that the data needs to consider the role of farming in reducing carbon emissions. Theo De Jager, president of the World Farmers Organisation, emphasized the importance of soil quality in mitigating climate change and called for policies and legislation to support farmers in adapting to climate change.
A South African farmer, who grows avocados, macadamias, lychees, and mangoes in Limpopo province, has adopted new farming techniques to reduce carbon emissions, including not burning residues left behind by harvested timber.
"We've just planted trees to be harvested in 2035. By then, the variety we plant may no longer be the best for the area due to changing weather patterns," the farmer explained.
