Agriculture and food production make a massive contribution to global warming - and not just because of cows producing methane.

Between 1945 and 1986, the amount of carbon released from the land tripled. Since 1980, UK soils lost 12-15% carbon of the total carbon in the soil, due mainly to loss from arable lands.

This amounts to about 4Million tonnes/yr lost in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Some commentators suggest that with more sustainable practices, it is possible to reduce 7.4 Mtc emissions. This is equivalent to the transfers in the first year of the Emissions Trading Scheme. Why isn't agriculture part of this scheme?

Less carbon is returned to earth, as more is transformed to methane (landfill) and carbon dioxide (incineration & energy use) - both Greenhouse Gases. This disturbs the Carbon Cycle.

The result is that soil (especially the top crucial 5cm) is becoming depleted of the key element of all life - carbon. (Play the Carbon Cycle Game)....

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