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Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems
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Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, 04 Dublin, Ireland
UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science and UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems

Abstract submission deadline
31 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2025
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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to invite you to contribute to this topic "Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems". As humanity confronts the escalating challenges of climate change and its profound impact on agricultural sustainability, this research area has emerged as a critical focal point for researchers and practitioners alike. By investigating innovative strategies to reduce the carbon footprint in agricultural systems, we aim to address the urgent need for sustainable solutions, emphasising a systems-based approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing carbon sequestration, and decreasing nutrient losses while safeguarding food security, environmental integrity, and ecosystem services.

The aim of this Topic aligns seamlessly with the scope of MDPI journals such as Climate, Land, Agronomy, Grasses, Crops, Horticulturae and Plants, which seek to advance interdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate science, land use, and agricultural practices, considering fundamental and applied approaches. By exploring the nexus between carbon reduction strategies and agricultural systems (e.g., crops, livestock, agroforestry, mixed farming, and associated techniques, including decision support systems), in this Topic, we will provide insights that inform research progress and technological advancements whilst contributing to economically viable and sustainable land management practices as well as decision making and policy formulation.

We encourage submissions that explore a range of themes, such as those outlined on the website of the International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (www.iscraes.org/themes), referring particularly to ISCRAES 2024. This includes original research articles that deal with the fundamentals of biogeochemical processes and applied research investigating innovative farming techniques, reviews that analyse agri-environmental and climate policy frameworks, and case studies that showcase practical applications. We welcome diverse contributions that advance our understanding of this crucial topic mainly from Symposium participants.

Join us in this endeavour to catalyse meaningful change in agricultural practices and shape a more sustainable future for generations to come. Your contributions are invaluable in driving forward the discourse on a future of low-carbon agriculture and the increased resilience of agricultural systems, leading to carbon-neutral farms by 2050.

Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • agricultural systems
  • reframing strategies
  • low-carbon future
  • sustainable land management
  • climate change
  • environmental integrity
  • technological advancements
  • interdisciplinary research
  • food security
  • policy decisions

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Agronomy
agronomy 		3.3 6.2 2011 15.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Climate
climate 		3.0 5.5 2013 21.9 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Crops
crops 		- - 2021 24.2 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Grasses
grasses 		- - 2022 16.3 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Horticulturae
horticulturae 		3.1 3.5 2015 14.8 Days CHF 2200 Submit
Land
land 		3.2 4.9 2012 17.8 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Plants
plants 		4.0 6.5 2012 18.2 Days CHF 2700 Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 1442 KiB  
Article
Effects of Oregano on Lactation Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation Parameters, and Methane Emissions in Dairy Cows: A Meta-Analysis
by Ali Mahdavi and Babak Darabighane
Climate 2024, 12(10), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12100167 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 978
Abstract
Growing concerns regarding antibiotic use in livestock, due to antibiotic resistance and potential human transmission, have led to increased interest in herbs and their derivatives, including essential oils, which possess antimicrobial properties that may enhance overall productivity and serve as a strategy for [...] Read more.
Growing concerns regarding antibiotic use in livestock, due to antibiotic resistance and potential human transmission, have led to increased interest in herbs and their derivatives, including essential oils, which possess antimicrobial properties that may enhance overall productivity and serve as a strategy for methane mitigation. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of adding oregano to the diet in different forms (essential oils, plant materials, or leaves) on the dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY), milk components, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, and methane (CH4) emissions of dairy cows. A literature search was conducted to identify papers published from 2000 to 2023. Effect size for all outcomes was reported as a standardized means difference (SMD) and raw means difference with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was determined using the Q test and I2 statistic. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that adding oregano had no effect on DMI (SMD = 0.081; p = 0.507) and MY (SMD = 0.060; p = 0.665). Milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, and milk lactose percentage were not affected by oregano. The addition of oregano to the diet significantly decreased dry matter digestibility (SMD = −0.502; p = 0.013), crude protein digestibility (SMD = −0.374; p = 0.040), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (SMD = −0.505; p = 0.014). Ruminal pH (SMD = −0.122; p = 0.411), total volatile fatty acids concentration (SMD = −0.038; p = 0.798), acetate (SMD = −0.046; p = 0.757), propionate (SMD = 0.007; p = 0.960), and butyrate (SMD = 0.037; p = 0.801) proportion were not affected by oregano. The addition of oregano to the diet tended to decrease CH4/DMI (SMD = −0.275; p = 0.095) but did not affect CH4 production (SMD = −0.156; p = 0.282). Heterogeneity (Q and I2) was non-significant for all parameters. We conclude that the inclusion of oregano in various forms (essential oils, plant materials, or leaves) in the diet of dairy cows reduces nutrient digestibility but does not significantly affect DMI, MY, milk components, ruminal fermentation parameters, or CH4 production. Future research should focus on optimizing the dosage of oregano (both EOs and plant materials) and exploring the impact of its form on lactation, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and CH4 emissions in dairy cows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems)
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18 pages, 2281 KiB  
Article
The Carbon Footprint and Influencing Factors of the Main Grain Crops in the North China Plain
by Tao Sun, Hongjie Li, Congxin Wang, Ran Li, Zichao Zhao, Bing Guo, Li Yao and Xinhao Gao
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081720 - 5 Aug 2024
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Abstract
The North China Plain (NCP) serves as a critical grain-producing region in China, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the nation’s food security. A comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint (CF) related to the cultivation of major grain crops within this region and [...] Read more.
The North China Plain (NCP) serves as a critical grain-producing region in China, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the nation’s food security. A comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint (CF) related to the cultivation of major grain crops within this region and the proposal of strategies to reduce emissions through low-carbon production methods are crucial for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in China. This study employed the lifecycle assessment (LCA) method to estimate the CF of wheat, maize, and rice crops over a period from 2013 to 2022, based on statistical data collected from five key provinces and cities in the NCP: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. Additionally, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model was utilized to analyze the influencing factors. The results indicated that the carbon footprints per unit area (CFA) of maize, wheat, and rice increased between 2013 and 2022. Rice had the highest carbon footprint per unit yield (CFY), averaging 1.1 kg CO2-eq kg−1, with significant fluctuations over time. In contrast, the CFY of wheat and maize remained relatively stable from 2013 to 2022. Fertilizers contributed the most to CF composition, accounting for 48.8%, 48.0%, and 25.9% of the total carbon inputs for wheat, maize, and rice, respectively. The electricity used for irrigation in rice production was 31.8%, which was much higher than that of wheat (6.8%) and maize (7.1%). The LMDI model showed that the labor effect was a common suppressing factor for the carbon emissions of maize, wheat, and rice in the NCP, while the agricultural structure effect and the economic development effect were common driving factors. By improving the efficiency of fertilizer and pesticide utilization, cultivating new varieties, increasing the mechanical operation efficiency, the irrigation efficiency, and policy support, the CF of grain crop production in the NCP can be effectively reduced. These efforts will contribute to the sustainable development of agricultural practices in the NCP and support China’s efforts to achieve its “double carbon” target. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems)
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