State of Knowledge on UK Agricultural Peatlands for Food Production and the Net Zero Transition

Isobel L. Lloyd (), Virginia Thomas, Chidiebere Ofoegbu, Andrew V. Bradley, Paddy Bullard, Brenda D’Acunha, Beth Delaney, Helen Driver, Chris D. Evans, Katy J. Faulkner, Jeremy A. Fonvielle, Richard M. Francksen, Laurie E. Friday, Gemma Hose, Joerg Kaduk, Francesca Re Manning, Ross Morrison, Paula Novo, Susan E. Page, Jennifer M. Rhymes, Megan Hudson and Heiko Balzter
Additional contact information
Isobel L. Lloyd: School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Virginia Thomas: Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PJ, UK
Chidiebere Ofoegbu: International Business School, Teesside University, Middlesborough TS1 3BX, UK
Andrew V. Bradley: Nottingham Geospatial Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK
Paddy Bullard: School of Literature & Languages, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK
Brenda D’Acunha: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
Beth Delaney: School of Geography Geology & The Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Helen Driver: The Centre for Landscape Regeneration, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
Chris D. Evans: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
Katy J. Faulkner: The Centre for Landscape Regeneration, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
Jeremy A. Fonvielle: The Centre for Landscape Regeneration, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
Richard M. Francksen: Institute of Science and Environment, University of Cumbria, Carlisle CA1 2HH, UK
Laurie E. Friday: The Centre for Landscape Regeneration, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
Gemma Hose: Centre for Alternative Technology, Powys SY20 9AZ, UK
Joerg Kaduk: School of Geography Geology & The Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Francesca Re Manning: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge BS2 3EA, UK
Ross Morrison: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
Paula Novo: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Susan E. Page: School of Geography Geology & The Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Jennifer M. Rhymes: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
Megan Hudson: Fenland SOIL, Cambridgeshire CB7 5TZ, UK
Heiko Balzter: School of Geography Geology & The Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Agricultural peatlands are the most productive soils in the UK for the cultivation of many food crops. Historical drainage of peat for agriculture (i.e., cropland and managed grassland), without consideration of other associated environmental and climatic impacts, has resulted in a significant emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). There is a need to reduce GHG emissions without compromising the rural economy and jeopardizing food security in the UK to a greater extent than is currently being experienced. In March 2023, in a bid to identify alternative land management systems for agricultural peatlands to support the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050, a group of forty investigators met at a workshop convened by the AgriFood4NetZero Network+. The workshop reviewed the state of knowledge surrounding the Fens of Eastern England and their importance for food provision, the economy, cultural identity, and climate change mitigation. A broad consensus emerged for research into how GHG emissions from agricultural peatlands could be reduced, whether alternative farming methods, such as seasonal farming or paludiculture, would offer a solution, and how a localized approach for the Fens could be defined. The development of a holistic, inclusive, and plausible land use scenario that considers all aspects of ecosystem services provided by the Fens is urgently needed.

Keywords: agriculture; greenhouse gas emissions; peatland; drainage; paludiculture; land management; the Fens (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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