4 ms·

This life cycle analysis paper shows that 90% of co2 output from fertilizer is offset by increased biomass production. This is important nuance. https://www.sc

• henearkr 6y ago
  So it's a net non-zero CO2 footprint? That would rather be against fertilizer then.
  • dr_dshiv 6y ago
    Oh yeah, growing food is definitely one of the biggest sources of emissions! 26%. But many things besides fertilizer. Reviewed here. Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992.
    • henearkr 6y ago
      Thanks a lot for the reference! We are an animal species literally growing on fossil fuels.
      • dr_dshiv 6y ago
        Yes, that is correct. Really important to get the transition right. Then we just have to deal with creating a post scarcity political economy :)
  • Nasrudith 6y ago
    Not really, it depends upon the cost of not using fertilizer. The 10% emissions could be better in immediafe emissions again than having to farm N times more acres to get the same production.
    • henearkr 6y ago
      You could still have good production by using permaculture or other natural methods (or at least methods that are not energy-intensive).