The contribution of precision agriculture technologies to farm productivity and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU

Agriculture in the EU has to cope with global challenges such as climate change mitigation and making farming more efficient. The active management of agricultural practices using appropriate technologies and systems could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase agricultural productivity and income. However, information on the uptake, use and impacts of precision agriculture technologies (PAT) in the EU is so far sparse and site-specific. This technical report assesses the impact of PAT on GHG emissions and farm economics. To this end, a typology of PAT was created in order to identify those that had the greatest potential to reduce GHG emissions. Secondly, five case studies were selected with the aim of identifying a range of EU countries, precision agriculture techniques and arable crop types that could realise the maximum potential economic and environmental benefits of adopting PAT. A survey was applied to 971 adopters and non-adopters of machine guidance and/or variable-rate nitrogen application technologies on the selected study cases with the aim of assessing the reasons behind uptake and the economic and environmental impacts of different approaches. Finally, economic and environmental impacts were investigated though a partial budgeting analysis and the Miterra-Europe model respectively. Results indicate that, although most surveyed farmers were aware of PAT, uptake rates are low. High investment costs, farm size and the farmers’ age were identified as barriers to the adoption of PAT. The survey reveals that adoption barriers might be overcome by boosting economic incentives that aim to improve economic performance both directly and indirectly. However, non-monetary incentives, such as technical advice or training, also seem to be of interest to the surveyed farmers. The results of the survey also show that information points, such as peer-to-peer learning, attendance at trade fairs, visits to (and by) researchers and industry dealers, have a positive effect on PAT uptake. The results of the partial budget analysis, where capital costs of the technologies are not included, indicate that impacts are highly variable by country, by farm type and size, and by technology. The results of the environmental impact analysis show that the introduction of PAT might have positive effects on the environment, with reductions in GHG emissions from the reduced application of fertiliser, reduced fertiliser production and reduced use of fuels.