Men and women who leave a mark

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Men and women who leave a mark

Conservation agriculture represents an important opportunity that will help reduce greenhouse gases.

Almost 40 years ago, the phrase "for men who leave a mark" was part of a slogan that evoked a memorable experience through aromas and fragrances associated with qualities of leadership, strength, and positive impact.

Now, the mark that not only the men of that era but all of humanity leaves as a legacy is the ecological impact of all our activities (the way we travel, dress, make products, and consume food); in other words, our Carbon Footprint.

What is the carbon footprint?

Although it has always been known that human activities leave a mark on the environment, it was not until the 1990s that this indicator was created, giving an idea of our impact on the planet and comparing the use of natural resources with their capacity for renewal.

The carbon footprint is the trail of greenhouse gases (GHG) left by human activities. This environmental indicator measures both the direct and indirect emissions of various compounds.

What are Greenhouse Gases (GHG)?

GHGs are components naturally present in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and nitrogen oxide, among others, and they are essential for maintaining the Earth's balance and temperature. In fact, their presence is not only good but necessary so that the planet is not a block of ice; the problem arises when there is an imbalance and an excessive increase in these gases.

We human beings, from birth to death, along with all the activities we carry out, whether individually or at the industrial level, contribute to the increase in these GHGs and to the loss of that balance.

What we wear, what we eat, what we do every day, and the way everything we consume is produced all lead to an increase in GHGs. These emissions change the chemical composition of the atmosphere, raise the Earth's temperature, and alter climates.

Sustainability as part of the solution.

We are well aware that today's lifestyle can lead us to face severe environmental consequences, such as worsening pollution, loss of biodiversity, and scarcity of water and other natural resources, which is why it is urgent to adopt sustainable practices that help us maintain the planet's balance and health.

One of the activities that generates the most GHG emissions is agriculture, due to soil disturbance and the use of fertilizers and machinery. Fortunately, at Aguas Firmes we can witness first-hand the benefits that conservation agriculture brings.

The shift in soil management philosophy that this type of agriculture brings changes the dynamics of carbon in the soil, increasing its storage capacity. In this way, the role of soil as a carbon sink becomes more significant, and this happens fundamentally for two reasons:

By leaving plant residues covering the soil surface (permanent soil cover), the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air that has been fixed in plant structures becomes part of the soil as organic matter, thanks to the decomposition process carried out by soil microorganisms. Not burning crop residues reduces air pollution. The decrease in GHG emissions with this farming system is due both to reduced fuel use and to carbon sequestration in soil organic matter.
On the other hand, eliminating tillage (minimal soil disturbance) improves soil structure, making it more stable and leaving organic matter better protected against attack by microorganisms, so that the CO2 resulting from the mineralization of organic materials remains trapped in the soil's pore space. In this way, the whole process helps reduce emissions of this gas from the soil.

In addition, the use of more efficient nitrogen fertilizers and crop rotations, which are an important component of nitrogen management in conservation agriculture systems, together make it possible to reduce emissions of nitrous oxide, a gas more potent than CO2.

Conservation agriculture represents an important opportunity that will help reduce greenhouse gases

As individuals, how can we help reduce our Carbon Footprint?

The responsibility for preserving our environment falls on all actors in society: companies, governments, institutions, and individuals. The coming years will be decisive in the battle against climate change, and our success will undoubtedly depend on our ability to reduce our own carbon footprint. It is important for each person to do their bit to achieve this.

Here are some suggestions that will help: