Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Land
Both conventional and KRAV-certified farming contribute to greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural land and livestock production. These emissions can be influenced by how the land is managed. Drained humus soils—such as those in bogs and marshes—release the highest levels of greenhouse gases when used for agriculture. For this reason, KRAV standards prohibit the cultivation of new humus soils.
Artificial fertilisers generate significant greenhouse gas emissions during both production and use, and their manufacture relies heavily on fossil fuels. Most emissions of nitrous oxide—a potent greenhouse gas—come from fertilisers used in conventional farming.
KRAV-certified agriculture prohibits artificial fertilisers. Instead, farmers use organic fertilisers such as manure from cows or pigs, which benefits both the climate and the soil. Manure nourishes soil-dwelling animals and microorganisms, helping maintain or increase humus content. This improves soil fertility, water and nutrient retention, and drought resistance. Healthy soils also store climate-impacting carbon dioxide. KRAV livestock farmers further strengthen this effect by cultivating large areas of grazing land, such as grass and clover, which capture carbon dioxide from the air.
Crop Rotation to Reduce Nutrient Loss
While manure also emits greenhouse gases, nutrient leakage per hectare is generally lower in KRAV-certified fields compared to conventional farms. KRAV standards require varied crop rotations and additional measures to reduce nutrient losses and emissions.
These measures include maintaining ground cover during winter, storing manure under cover to minimise nutrient leakage, and applying it with the right technology and at the right time to ensure efficient nutrient use.
