Climate change (greenhouse gas emissions/land carbon management)

Agriculture, land use and food production have significant potential to contribute to the emissions of greenhouse gases and consequent climate change. It is a complex topic that requires a holistic perspective to develop land management systems that reduce net emissions whilst also maintaining and enhancing food production and other ecosystem services. AERU have extensive experience in assessing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in a range of agricultural systems. This includes the application of life cycle assessment techniques to provide a holistic account of emissions and undertaking strategic assessments of different land use change scenarios. AERU also have expertise in understanding the concept of resilience and assessing adaptive capacity within the context the potential pressure on agricultural systems posed by climate change.

See also Climate Change and Sustainability; and Dr Doug Warner's Powering Progress video.

Projects

• 2020-2021: Energy balance - Strategic Cereal Farm East
• 2020-2020: Balancing the Environment Agency's residual greenhouse gas emissions
• 2014-2019: Ecosystem services calculator
• 2013-2017: Sustainable Intensification Platform (SIP)
• 2012-2013: OSCAR - Optimal Strategies for Climate change Action in Rural areas
• 2009-2010: The climate change mitigation potential of an EU farm: towards a farm-based integrated assessment
• 2007-2009: Assessment of reduction in environmental burdens through targeted measures compared with whole farm approaches in cropping and livestock systems
• 2006-2020: Countryside stewardship GHG emissions
• 2005-2008: Energy optimisation in European greenhouses - GREENERGY

Publications

• Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D., Green, A., & Lewis, K.A. (2021). A broad-scale spatial analysis of the environmental benefits of fertiliser closed periods implemented under the Nitrates Directive in Europe. Journal of Environmental Management, 299: 113674. DOI.
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A. and Lewis, K.A. (2020). Establishing a field-based evidence base for the impact of agri-environment options on soil carbon and climate change mitigation – phase 1. Final Report. Work package number: ECM50416. Evidence Programme Reference number: RP04176. Natural England.
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A. and Lewis, K.A. (2020). Establishing a field-based evidence base for the impact of agri-environment options on soil carbon and climate change mitigation – phase 2. Final Report. Work package number: ECM50416. Evidence Programme Reference number: RP04176. Natural England.
• Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D.J. & Holland, J.M. (2019). Developing practical techniques for quantitative assessment of ecosystem services on farmland. Ecological Indicators, 106: 105514 DOI
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A., Charlton, D. & Lewis, K.A. (2019). Determining the climate change mitigation potential of Countryside Stewardship. World Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science Change, 1(2), DOI
• Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D.J. & Green, A. (2018). Agri-environmental Management in Europe: Sustainable Challenges and Solutions - From Policy Interventions to Practical Farm Management. 5m Publishing, Sheffield, UK. ISBN: 1912178443
• Warner, D., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A. and Lewis, K. (2017) Environmental impact assessment of sugar beet and sugar cane grown in the United States. Confidential report to Western Sugar Ltd
• Green, A., Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J. & Warner D.J. (2017). Agricultural climate change mitigation: carbon calculators as a guide for decision making. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15(6): 645-661. DOI
• Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D.J., Green, A. & Lewis, K.A. (2017). Spatial and temporal variability of greenhouse gas emissions from rural development land use operations. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 22(3): 447-467. DOI
• Warner, D., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A. & Lewis, K. (2017). Prioritising agri-environment options for greenhouse gas mitigation. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 9(1): 104-122. DOI
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A. & Lewis, K.A. (2016). Rural Development Program measures on cultivated land in Europe to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions – regional “hotspots” and priority measures. Carbon Management, 7(3-4): 205-219. DOI
• Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D., Green, A. & Lewis, K.A. (2015). Adapting to climate change: Assessing the vulnerability of ecosystem services in Europe in the context of rural development. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 20(4): 547-572. DOI
• Tzilivakis, J., Green, A., Lewis, K.A. & Warner, D.J (2014). Identifying integrated options for agricultural climate change mitigation. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 6(2): 192-211. DOI
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Green, A., Slater, R.I.J. & Lewis, K.A. (2013). Measuring the Extent to Which Greenhouse Gas Emission Savings Achieved by Environmental Stewardship are Displaced On-farm - Natural England Report NECR121. Natural England, York, UK.
• Tzilivakis, J., Lewis, K., Green, A., Warner, D., Fialkiewicz, W., Olearczyk, D., Bordet, C. & Langevin, B. (2013). Optimal Design of Climate Change Policies Through the EU's Rural Development Policy: Final Report to the European Commission. European Commission, Brussels.
• Lewis, K.A., Green, A., Warner, D.J. & Tzilivakis, J. (2012). Carbon accounting tools: are they fit for purpose in the context of arable cropping. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 11(2): 159-175. DOI
• Tzilivakis, J., Green, A., Warner, D.J., McGeever, K. & Lewis, K.A. (2012). A framework for practical and effective eco-labelling of food products. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 3(1): 50-73. DOI
• Tzilivakis, J. (2011). The climate change mitigation potential of an EU farm: towards a farm-based integrated assessment. European Commission meeting of agri-environment correspondents, Brussels, Belgium, 18 March 2011.
• Tzilivakis, J., Lewis, K.A., Green, A., Warner, D.J., MacMillan, T & McGeevor, K. (2011). Effective approaches to environmental labelling of food products. Final Report for Defra Project FO0419. January 2011.
• Tzilivakis, J., Lewis, K.A., Green, A. & Warner, D.J. (2010). The Climate Change Mitigation Potential of an EU Farm: Towards a Farm-Based Integrated Assessment: Final Report for EC Project ENV.B.1/ETU/2009/0052. European Commission, Brussels.
• Warner, D.J., Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J. & Green, A. (2010). Integrated Management Options for Agricultural Climate Change Mitigation (IMPACCT). Proceedings of ‘The Dundee Conference Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010’, University of Dundee, 23 – 24 February 2010
• Warner, D.J., Davies, M., Hipps, N., Osborne, N., Tzilivakis, J. & Lewis, K.A. (2010). Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use in UK-grown short-day strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch) crops. Journal of Agricultural Science, 148(6): 667-681. DOI
• Warner, D.J. and Lewis, K.A. (2008) The impact on greenhouse gas emissions of the revised Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: Final Report for Project WT0757NVZ. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
• Körner, O., Warner, D., Tzilivakis, J., Eveleens, B. and Heuvelink, E. (2008). Decision Support for Optimising Energy Consumption in European Greenhouses. Acta Hort. (ISHS), 801: 803-810
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Korner, O., Eveleens, B., Heuvelink, E. and Lewis, K.A. (2008) GREENERGY - Energy optimisation in European greenhouses: D16: Core SME greenhouse growers final energy consumption data. European Commission, Brussels.
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Korner, O., Eveleens, B., Heuvelink, E. and Lewis, K.A. (2008) GREENERGY - Energy optimisation in European greenhouses: D6/D7/D8: Reference Greenhouse, Core Calculation Module and Graphical User Interface for the Energy Auditing Tool (EAT). Final Version. European Commission, Brussels.
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Korner, O., Eveleens, B., Heuvelink, E. and Lewis, K.A. (2008) GREENERGY - Energy optimisation in European greenhouses: D9: Delivery of the Energy Auditing Tool (EAT). European Commission, Brussels.
• Warner, D.J., Davies, M., Hipps, N., Osborne, N., Tzilivakis, J. & Lewis, K.A. (2005) Sustainability of UK Strawberry Crop. Final report for Defra project HH3606.
• Tzilivakis, J., Jaggard, K., Lewis, K.A., May, M. & Warner, D.J. (2005). An assessment of the energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) production in the UK. Agricultural Systems 85, 101-119.
• Tzilivakis, J., Jaggard, K., Lewis, K.A., May, M. & Warner, D.J. (2005). Environmental impact and economic assessment for UK sugar beet production systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 107, 341-358.
• Warner, D.J., Tzilivakis, J., Hipps, N., Davies, M., Osborne, N., & Lewis, K.A. (2003). Environmental impact assessment of the UK strawberry crop. Proceedings of the International Fertiliser Society and Dahlia Greidinger Symposium. Izmir, Turkey, 7 – 10 December 2003, pages 396 - 398.
• Tzilivakis, J., Lewis K.A., Green, A., Warner, D.J. and Kerr, S. (2003) Investigation of Varietal Characteristics Required for Sustainable Agriculture. Final report for Defra project VS0128.