State of knowledge on UK agricultural peatlands for food production and the net zero transition

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

State of knowledge on UK agricultural peatlands for food production and the net zero transition

This is the author accepted manuscript.Data Availability Statement: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.Agriculturally-used lowland peatlands are the most productive soils in the UK for growing many food crops. This requires drainage of the peat, which subsequently leads to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Historically, there has been a focus on using this land to increase food production, without considering the associated negative environmental and climate impacts. Focusing only on eliminating GHG emissions, would have economic consequences and jeopardise food security in the UK to a greater extent than is currently being experienced. This could result in food price inflation and trade barriers, and would risk transferring GHG emissions from food production to other countries. In March 2023, in a bid to identify alternative land management systems for peatlands to support the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050, a group of 40 investigators met at a workshop convened by the AgriFood4NetZero Network+. The expert workshop reviewed the state of knowledge surrounding the Fens of eastern England and their importance for food provision, economic value, cultural identity, and climate change mitigation. A broad consensus emerged that a holistic and plausible land use scenario that considers all aspects of ecosystem services provided by the Fens urgently needs to be defined.UKRI AgriFood4NetZero Network+Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

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

Peer reviewed: TrueAcknowledgements: The authors wish to thank the AgriFood4NetZero Network+ for providing funds for the organization of the workshop. Further thanks to R.M.F. and H.D. for organizing in-person hubs at Newcastle University and the University of Cambridge, respectively, and to C.D.E., L.E.F., J.K., P.N. and S.E.P. for giving plenary lectures at the workshop.Publication status: PublishedFunder: Centre for Landscape RegenerationAgricultural 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

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

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