ABSTRACT
In Chapter 7, the authors discuss the impacts of the current farming system in the EU region, which are in general intensive, highly specialized and mechanized, heavily dependent on external input and with no or very low crop rotation options. This type of farming system model has a negative environmental impact on water, soil and biodiversity as well as on GHG emissions. Fallow season and lack of proper crop residues management, with no rotation, low utilization of farm manure and organic fertilizers (due to absence of livestock farming in the area) and intensive soil labouring has led to high soil carbon losses. This could be reversed by adopting proper land management and shifting to organic production that can contribute to biodiversity and agroecosystem services improvement. Paddy rice cultivation has significant mitigation potential through soil carbon storage, enabling rice fields to act as carbon sink. GHG mitigation farm strategies should also include reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers. The chapter presented main findings and carbon-neutral farming solutions to reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the soils. The evolution of EU regulations is focusing on general legislation on agriculture and rice production, and on regulations to support the conservation and sequestration of carbon in the soil.
