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Why we need to look beyond the farm to achieve sustainability in agri-food systems

In the context of climate change, agriculture has emerged as a focal point in recent years. As agricultural activities are accountable for 19-29% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 14% of India's total GHG emissions, this focus is not misplaced.

The development of new hybrid varieties, the introduction of water-efficient irrigation systems, and the elimination of chemical inputs are just some of the various interventions that the scientific community, policymakers, and civil society have focused most of their attention on in order to develop our food system in a way that is sustainable.

to address the three challenges of rural livelihoods, adaptation, and mitigation, the time has come to begin focusing on the entire agricultural value chain rather than just production.

This is due primarily to three factors: First, the post-production effects of these value chains on the environment. Second, efficient supply chains must be developed so that agricultural products that are produced sustainably can compete with established value chains of products that are not. Thirdly, this strategy will shift the burden of sustainability transitioning from the farmer to other supply chain actors.

Impact of agricultural value chains on the environment Depending on the product and whether it is intended for domestic or export markets, several steps are taken after production before it reaches the final consumer. These include packaging and adding value, acquiring, distributing via land, air, and sea, international trade, consumption patterns, storage at various stages, and waste throughout the entire life cycle.

Industrial processing of numerous commodities, including sugar and rubber, may have an impact on the environment in the form of water pollution and high energy consumption.

A product's environmental footprint can be significantly altered by these additional steps. Let's take cotton as an illustration. According to a 2016 study, the energy consumed and emissions produced throughout the cotton yarn value chain account for only a small portion of the total energy consumed and emissions produced.