Sustainable agriculture can have a significant role in climate change mitigation by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging carbon sequestration, and increasing the resilience of ecosystems. Agroforestry, where trees are incorporated into farming systems for increased sequestration of carbon and biodiversity; regenerative agriculture, through mechanisms such as no-till agriculture and cover cropping to build soil health; and organic agriculture, which eschews synthetic inputs to reduce emissions, are some of the key approaches. Climate-smart agriculture integrates these approaches to manage landscapes at a wholescale level for productivity and climate adaptation.
The advantages reach far. Sustainable practices sequester more carbon in soils and vegetation and lower atmospheric CO₂ levels considerably. They lower emissions as well by limiting the application of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Better soil health enhances water retention and biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience allows farms to absorb climate shocks better. Most importantly, these practices guarantee long-term food security.
Other innovations include low-carbon livestock systems, digital technologies for optimized use of resources, and economic incentives like carbon credits to encourage climate-smart agriculture. All of these strategies make sustainable agriculture a powerful tool for combating climate change and supporting environmental well-being as well as economic resilience.