Abstract

SAYNES SANTILLAN, Vinisa; ETCHEVERS BARRA, Jorge D.; PAZ PELLAT, Fernando  and  ALVARADO CARDENAS, Leonardo O.. Greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural systems in Mexico. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.1, pp.83-96. ISSN 2395-8030.

Agriculture is the food source to feed an increasing global population. Agriculture is the fourth cause of global GHG emissions with the non-CO2 gases among them, including N2O and CH4. These gases have a warming potential of 265 and 28 for N2O and CH4, respectively. In Mexico GHG emission information has been reported in several communications and from different perspectives. In this paper we collected the available GHG information reported in National Communications and the First Biennial Report, in peer review papers and “grey” literature. Agriculture emissions reported in National Communications showed inconsistencies due to factors such as lack of information, access to information in the case of the First and Second Communications. In the case of the subsequent reports inconsistencies were associated with methodological issues. According to the updated national GHG estimations presented in the Biennial Report, agricultural activities are the third cause of GHG emissions accounting for the 12% on national emissions. Within the Agriculture category enteric fermentation, manure management and synthetic use of nitrogen fertilizers are causing the majority of GHG emissions. The main challenges to improve the estimations of GHG emissions and reduce its uncertainty is the generation of detailed national emissions factors to which it is essential to obtain more and better information of the key sources. In this investigation we found there is relevant information that would be useful but it is dispersed. Therefore it is necessary the synthesis and systematization of the information, particularly the one found in the “grey” literature.

Keywords : agricultural sector; GHG inventories; Mexico.

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