This paper clearly sets out the importance of agriculture in its contribution to climate change, then explores how this understanding can be used to communicate this contribution more clearly and to prompt mitigation measures. The authors argue for a change in how greenhouse gas emissions (in particular methane and nitrous oxide) are reported to better reflect how different gas emissions impact agriculture. Although this is a scientific paper, it is written in a straightforward, accessible way, and is full of useful information about how emissions are quantified and the journey to net zero. 

The Brown family farm was struggling to survive when the author decided to experiment with regenerative agriculture to cut costs. The farm now boasts a range of crops and livestock, with thicker topsoil and greater biodiversity. The regenerative approach mitigates climate change by not using artificial fertilisers, which contribute significantly to carbon emissions during their production. The development of topsoil also sees more carbon being safely stored in this carbon sink. Brown argues that regenerative agriculture can improve ecosystems and combat climate change alongside being profitable for the farmer. A strong message of hope, this book offers older students a range of examples to support their understanding of farming in relation to mitigating climate change.

Agrivoltaics involve using solar panels to produce renewable energy in the same space as growing crops, allowing farmers to reducing carbon emissions from the energy they consume. This article explores how growing crops under solar panels in Kenya keeps the crops shaded, reducing water loss and helping growth. The approach has limitations, but could be used in remote areas to provide both food and energy. Students studying sustainable food resources, renewable energy, farming practices, carbon cycles or climate change would benefit from being made aware of this example and researching other contexts in which agrivoltaics are being used successfully.

Taking Brazil as their context, the authors explore how farmers could both adapt to climate change and ensure their farms are profitable using integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems, rehabilitated pastures, agroforestry and/or sustainable forestry. These practices make farms more resilient in terms of extreme weather, climate change and economic markets. Careful use of indigenous practices and native species is highlighted: it would be interesting for students to study this aspect of the article and then seek their own examples from different countries.

How does climate change affect farming? This clip answers the question with an example from Kent.