Progress on the environmental performance of agriculture has slowed – and even reversed for some indicators – over the past 10 to 15 years, according to newly updated OECD data.
The new Environmental Performance of Agriculture in OECD Countries: Key Trends and Insights shows that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in OECD countries, which had remained stable for years, began rising in the 2010s by an average of 0.4% per year, resulting in a 4.3% increase between 2009 and 2021. At the same time, progress in reducing emission intensity slowed significantly.
Agricultural ammonia emissions, generated by manure from livestock production and fertiliser use, had been declining up to 2015, but have since seen a stark reversal with emissions increasing by 2.8% on average per year between 2015 and 2021.
Indicators for nutrient balance and biodiversity tell a similar story. Nutrient inputs like fertiliser, which play a key role in soil fertility when applied appropriately, saw a decline in surpluses in the 1990s and 2000s – a positive trend that has tapered off and remained stalled since 2010. Farmland bird populations declined in 22 of the 27 OECD countries monitored between 2009 and 2021, highlighting pressures from human activity and other disturbances to biodiversity.
Ensuring that agriculture remains productive, sustainable, and resilient will require continued efforts in data-driven assessments and informed decision-making. By providing comprehensive data on these trends, the report supports efforts to align agricultural policies with environmental sustainability objectives.
For more information on OECD’s work on agriculture and environment, see:
https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/agriculture-and-environment.html
Press contacts: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/newsroom/press-contacts.html
