Source: Mint
Context:
India’s food sector is a major economic contributor, employing millions and encompassing food processing, agriculture, cold chains, and retail. Globally, food systems contribute about one-third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, driven by land use, fertilizers, livestock, and transport. As India scales its food sector, integrating climate action into supply chains is increasingly critical for both economic resilience and environmental sustainability.
Key Challenges
- Complexity of Emissions Measurement:
- Farm emissions are hard to measure due to variations in soil type, weather, farming practices, fodder quality, and livestock breed.
- Current tools rely on estimates, producing high error margins, making companies hesitant to set strict targets.
- Weak Consumer Incentives:
- While Indian consumers express interest in sustainability, price and taste often drive decisions.
- Uncertainty around willingness to pay green premiums discourages investment in cleaner supply chains.
- Supplier Constraints:
- Majority of Indian farms are small-scale, with limited credit, irrigation, or advisory support.
- Adoption of climate-friendly practices is slow unless costs are shared or incentives are provided.
- Supply Chain Complexity:
- Ensuring resilience requires influencing millions of producers, each facing urgent daily risks beyond climate concerns.
Drivers for Action
- Climate Risks: Volatile weather affects procurement, input costs, and product quality across dairy, cereals, and spices.
- Market Expectations: Large buyers, commodity traders, and financial institutions increasingly demand evidence of emissions management.
- Science-Based Guidance: The Science Based Targets Initiative provides norms for emissions from forests, land, and farming, allowing companies to align with global standards.
Recommended Steps
- Efficiency Improvements:
- Reduce energy use in processing plants.
- Shift to renewable energy.
- Improve cold-chain and transport efficiency to cut emissions and costs.
- Targeted Trials in Sourcing Regions:
- Rice: Alternate wetting and drying to reduce methane and water use.
- Dairy: Enhanced animal feed, livestock health, and manure management for higher productivity.
- Collaboration & Measurement:
- Partner with research institutions and agricultural centers.
- Use satellite mapping and standardized records to monitor emissions collectively.
- Policy Support:
- Publish emission standards for crops.
- Provide open land-use datasets and expand extension networks.
- Reward suppliers in public procurement schemes for cleaner production.
- Establish a national framework for private supply chain emissions, with clear baselines and verification norms.
