Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Climate Module: criteria for adaptation and mitigation Oliver Bach SAN Secretariat obach@sanstandards.org

What human activities cause GHG emissions? Industrial sources Land use sources Carbon dioxide (CO2) Burning of fossil fuels and cement production Deforestation and burning of forests Methane (CH4) Landfills, coal mining, natural gas production Wetland conversion, Rice paddies, cattle production, wastewater Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Burning of fossil fuels, production of nitric acid Use of fertilizers, Burning of biomass Hidrofluorcarbonos (HFCs) Industrial processes, manufacturing --- Perfluorcarbons (PFCs) Sulphur Hexafluorur (SF6) Electric transmission ---- What human activities cause GHG emissions?

Agriculture’s global carbon footprint 14% of all GHG emissions from agriculture - erosion, soil tillage, irrigation, fertilizer use, burning of biomass and livestock digestive systems Including deforestation – nearly 30% of global GHG emissions – mostly due to large scale agribusinesses such as oil palm, soy, cattle, pulpwood plantations Cattle production contributes up to 18% of all GHG emissions (FAO, 2006) 14% of GHG is more than the emissions generated by all of the world’s planes, trains and automobiles combined. How can agriculture’s growing footprint be curtailed? Agriculture’s global carbon footprint

Climate Change + Costa Rican Agriculture Raising temperature will affect sugarcane production: less sugar content, more competition from weeds and more severe rat pests. Cattle production and rice plantations have been suffering huge losses in the dry Northwest Extreme floods have affected banana production

Cattle land occupies 25% of CR territory, generates 11% of gross product and gives employment to 300.000 people Cattle production dominated by traditional production models with monoculture pastures and pasture degradation Silvopastoral systems have a 20-40% increased meat or milk production Higher bird and butterfly biodiversity CATIE: Carbon fixation in NW farms: Secondary forests (178,7 t C) Wood plantations (142,4 t C) Improved pastures with high tree density (107,1 t C) Degraded pastures (60,2 t C). Cattle Production

Organic Agriculture in Costa Rica (production hectares)

Coopedota first carbon neutral PAS 2060 certified coffee cooperative Domestic organic agriculture products receive same price as conventional products Agroforestry incentives only for some specific areas through environmental payment services Coopedota first carbon neutral PAS 2060 certified coffee cooperative No significant public incentives for low carbon footprint agriculture Costa Rica wants to be the first carbon neutral country of the world in 2021

Pesticide imports (tons) and agriculture area (100s of ha) 1977 - 2008

SAN Climate Module

Standard Setter for Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms

Farms use sustainable practices that are good for the climate, including… Increasing land under conservation and restoration Maintaining energy efficiency plans Water conservation and treatment of wastewater Planned and efficient application of fertilizers and priority to organic fertilization Reduce the amount of waste produced No cutting of natural forest or land burning Increase ground cover Farming systems can influence climate change in a number of ways. Growing vegetation sequesters the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in its biomass and subsequently in the soil. The burning and decay of cleared vegetation releases carbon dioxide. The use of fertilisers and chemicals can release nitrogen and carbon based greenhouse gases upon application as well as producing greenhouse gases in their production. For a comprehensive review of agricultural practices and the carbon cycle see Lal (2005)[1]. The general efficiency of the farm’s management can also determine the amount of greenhouse gases produced linked to energy use. The avoidance of deforestation for new production areas (9.5) is probably the most significant climate related SAN criteria, as the emissions related to deforesting areas through fire and decay represent a significant proportion of the original biomass. By increasing the vegetation cover for shade, buffering and soil protection significant sequestration can occur. For example, Kursten et al. (1993) found the carbon-stock of shade trees in agroecosystems to be 3 to 25 t C ha-1. Only allowing sustain able harvesting wil prevent the loss of carbon stocks through over abstraction. The relative importance of soil erosion is hard to define exactly due to the scientific uncertainty. More baseline data is required to determine the quantitative difference between these groups of benefits. More actual ground data is needed to determine the actual climate benefits derived, due to actual implementation. [1] Lal, R. (2005) Agricultural activities and the global carbon cycle Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 70: 103–116

Climate-friendly Agriculture Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM + Climate Module New, additional, robust climate criteria Add-on module to existing standard Climate-friendly Agriculture

Objectives of the SAN Climate Module Raise climate awareness and create added value for farmers Encourage increased carbon sequestration in soil and plants Promote reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farms Stimulate greater preparedness for adaptation strategies Page with frog Objectives of the SAN Climate Module

The SAN Climate Module: How it works A comprehensive approach, including: GHG inventory/measurement of emissions sources Improved emissions reductions planning and actions Quantification and inventory of carbon in trees and soils Risk assessment and strategies to adapt to climate change and extreme weather events Criteria closely linked between the existing SAN Standards – recognizes and builds on what producers already do The SAN Climate Module: How it works

Public Consultation Process (2009-2010)

http://clima.sanstandards.org/

Workshops + field tests: Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya

41 countries and 169 organizations

The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (1.12) Assess climate risks and vulnerabilities; include plans to adapt to & mitigate climate change. (1.13) Annual records of main GHG sources (1.14) Access information on climate variability and its predicted impacts (1.15) Maps of land use and records of land use changes (1.16) Adaptation and mitigation practices included in training and education programs (1.17) Choose service providers that incorporate climate-friendly practices in their operations SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (6) (1.12) The farm’s social and environmental management system must assess climate risks and vulnerabilities and include plans to adapt to and mitigate climate change. (1.13) The farm must annually record data about its main GHG emissions sources related to, at minimum, nitrogen fertilizer input, pesticide input, fossil fuel use for machinery, methane generated in waste and wastewater treatment and animal husbandry. (1.14) The farm must obtain available information on climate variability and its predicted impacts and adapt farm practices considering that information. (1.15) The farm must map its land use and keep records of land use changes. (1.16) The farm’s climate change adaptation and mitigation practices must be included in its training and education programs. (1.17) The farm must, to the extent possible, choose service providers that incorporate climate-friendly practices in their operations. The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria

The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION (2.10) Plant native or adapted species & promote natural regeneration, to reduce vulnerability and prevent degradation. (2.11) Maintain/increase carbon stocks by planting or conserving trees or other woody biomass. Do tree inventories every five years. WATER CONSERVATION (4.10) Analyze and implement wastewater treatment options that reduce methane emissions from wastewater treatment (4.11) Adapt to water scarcity by practices such as harvesting and storing rainwater and selecting drought tolerant crop varieties. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY (6.21) Be prepared for emergencies and plan response for extreme weather events - prevent damage to people, animals and property. ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION (2) (2.10) The farm must reduce vulnerability, prevent land degradation or enhance ecological functions by planting native or adapted species or promoting natural regeneration. (2.11) The farm must maintain or increase its carbon stocks by planting or conserving trees or other woody biomass. The farm must conduct tree inventories every five years. WATER CONSERVATION (2) (4.10)The farm must analyze and implement wastewater treatment options that reduce methane emissions from wastewater treatment and recover the generated methane, to the extent possible. (4.11) The farm must adapt to water scarcity by practices such as harvesting and storing rainwater and selecting drought tolerant crop varieties. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY (1) (6.21) The farm must implement an emergency preparedness and response plan for extreme weather events to prevent damage to people, animals and property. The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria

The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria COMMUNITY RELATIONS (7.7) Initiate/ participate in community’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT (8.10) Reduce nitrous oxide emissions through the efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers. SOIL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION (9.6) Maintain/increase soil carbon stocks by implementing climate-friendly soil management practices. INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT (10.1) Implement organic residue management practices that reduce GHG emissions. COMMUNITY RELATIONS (1) (7.7)The farm must initiate or actively participate in community’s climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, including identification of relevant resources. INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT (1) (8.10) The farm must reduce nitrous oxide emissions through the efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers to minimize the loss to air and water. SOIL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION (1) (9.6) The farm must maintain or increase its soil carbon stocks by implementing management practices, such as crop residue recycling, permanent cover crops reducing tillage, and optimizing the soil’s water retention and infiltration. INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT (1) (10.1) The farm must implement organic residue management practices that reduce GHG emissions, such as production of organic fertilizer or biomass energy generation. The SAN Climate Module: How it works – 15 criteria

The SAN Climate Module: Benefits FOR FARMERS Increase access to “green” markets and climate responsible businesses Potential for added product value through differentiation Position farm for inclusion in government Payment for Environmental Services programs Help “buffer” farm against climate changes, reduce risk of adverse impacts on production FOR COMPANIES AND BRANDS Products in-line with company’s climate-related CSR strategy A strategic step towards a low-carbon business model Promote and respond to consumers' demand for low-carbon products Niche markets: markets comprised of buyers who share common desire of having products that demonstrate “climate care” to their consumers (in the case of the climate module). More broadly, such markets can be referred to as “green commodities” markets, which reflect products grown in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly way, and are often certified by external parties for meeting these practices. PES: This is all tentative, but an opportunity that Rainforest Alliance envisions for those farms meeting the climate module; government programs are moving in these directions, and its possible that the climate module could be “grandfathered in” to those systems, and thus farmers could access any available funding. Again this is UNCERTAIN, but a potential direction that could be taken. Other benefits include: building farm capacity to adapt to climate change The SAN Climate Module: Benefits

The SAN Climate Module is NOT… Carbon-footprinting methodology Life Cycle Analysis ‘Carbon neutral’ module or label Focused to generate Carbon Offsets Page without frog The SAN Climate Module is NOT…

Standard for Sustainable Cattle Production Systems INTEGRATED CATTLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUSTAINABLE RANGE AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT ANIMAL WELFARE REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CATTLE FARMS