Hogan: New technologies ‘very important’ to reduce agricultural emissions
By Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com
Agriculture has to modernise to take account of the new technologies that are coming on the market as this is a “win-win situation” both financially and environmentally, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com.
According to the EU agricultural outlook 2017, the emissions linked to agriculture set to decrease by 2030 thanks to modern farming techniques reducing the use and improving the efficiency of inputs such as fertiliser.
Agricultural air pollution comes mainly in the form of ammonia, which enters the air as gases from livestock and from fertilisation using products prone to volatilisation.
In total, 94 % of all ammonia emissions in the EU result from agriculture, of which livestock excreta is responsible for the lion’s share – almost 80% of the total – while mineral fertiliser application accounts for approximately 20%.
