How Are Farmers Dealing with Climate Change?

Why Farming Superpowers Are Critical in the Fight Against Climate Change

A cartoon illustration of a group of people on a farm.

The recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes it clear we have reached a critical moment in history. The report estimates average global warming is now at 1.1°C compared to preindustrial records. But how are farmers dealing with climate change? Agriculture is in a unique position to be a key part of the solution.

Capturing Carbon

After the oceans, soils are the world’s second largest carbon sink — they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release.

Agriculture is one of the few sectors that can remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere while at the same time increasing its resilience to climate change.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set a goal of limiting average warming to 1.5°C in the 21st century. In each of the future emissions scenarios outlined in the new report, we will most likely reach average warming of 1.5°C within the next 20 years. Even if we reach net zero emissions by 2050 — the best-case scenario in the report — warming will peak mid-century at 1.6°C. The message is clear: it’s crucial that we take decisive action across the board to face this challenge.

Agriculture is uniquely positioned to be a core part of the solution. Today, agriculture accounts for nearly one quarter of all global greenhouse gas emissions — but farms also have an incredible superpower to bring to this fight: Through photosynthesis, they convert carbon from the air into plant matter and capture carbon in the soil. Through climate-smart tools and practices, farmers can help crops remove even more carbon from the atmosphere while reducing the volume and impact of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

In our new comic, see how the combination of crops’ natural superpowers, proven farming techniques, and amazing technology can help fight against climate change.

Interesting Links

Healthy Soils to fight against Climate Change

Science at Home for Kids: Climate Change

Digital Farming for Sustainability

Bayer Carbon Initiative

Comic illustration of three superheroes at conference table watching TV news on climate change, such as emissions, heatwaves and extreme weather.

Superheroes unable to combat climate change with superpowers, such as super breath against hurricanes or inventing a cooling system.

Superheroes searching for climate change and looking at existing solutions such as electric vehicles, tropical forest restoration and renewables.

Superheroes discover a carbon capture method in an agricultural field and want to learn more about it. Open configuration options

Superheroes in cornfield learn from female farmer about crop´s superpower to absorb carbon through photosynthesis

Superheroes follow farmer to learn more about carbon capture on farms.

Farmer explains climate-smart practices to slow erosion.

Farmer shows digital farming tool for effective work to reduce environmental impact. Open configuration options

A superhero reflects on the positive impact of climate-smart practices, and a farmer makes a comment about innovation for a carbon-negative future in agriculture.

Superheroes and farmer in cornfield sum up how collaboration and innovation can help fight climate change.

Bayer’s Path to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture

In close cooperation with growers, we are committed to reducing field greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% in the most emitting cropping systems that we serve by 2030.
We have the capability – and responsibility – to develop climate-smart solutions and trigger farmers’ adoption by creating innovative business models that benefit farmers, tackle climate change, and drive towards a carbon-zero future for agriculture.

To tackle such an ambitious goal, we’re focusing our efforts where we can make the biggest impact, working collaboratively with growers and partners across the value chain to reduce the GHG emissions of crops grown in the field and even help farmers sequester CO₂ and generate revenue from the practice, all while also reducing emissions in our own operations.

Learn more about our efforts to be the leading force in decarbonizing agriculture.

The Bayer Carbon Initiative

This initiative is an innovative, science-based and collaborative program that helps growers generate revenue for adopting specific climate-smart practices - such as no-till farming and the use of cover crops.