Report on the Plenary Session Organized by IRRI at the Global Soil Conference 2024, New Delhi

Introduction

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) hosted an impactful plenary session at the Global Soil Conference (GSC) 2024, held at NASC, New Delhi. The session "Advancing GHG Measurement, Bio-Innovations, and Carbon Credit Methodology for Low-Methane Rice Systems" centered on innovative approaches for methane emission mitigation, advanced GHG measurement techniques, and integrating low-methane farming practices into carbon credit frameworks. The event aimed to provide actionable insights and foster discussions on sustainable and climate-resilient rice systems.

Session Details

Date: 20th November 2024

Venue: NASC, New Delhi

Overall Coordination: Dr Panneerselvam Peramaiyan, Scientist II: Cropping Systems Agronomy, IRRI South Asia Regional Center, Varanasi, India

Moderator: Dr Anthony Fulford, Senior Scientist: Soil Science, IRRI South Asia Regional Center, Varanasi, India

 Rapporteurs: Dr Ajay Kumar Mishra, Senior Associate Scientist: Soil Science, and Debabrata Nath, Assistant Scientist: Agronomy, IRRI South Asia Regional Center, Varanasi, India

Key Highlights

The session comprised three thematic panels, featuring distinguished speakers and an interactive Q&A session.

Session Overview and Context Setting

Presenter: Dr Anthony Fulford, IRRI

Dr Anthony Fulford set the stage for the plenary session with a compelling introduction, highlighting the pivotal role of methane emission reductions in addressing global climate challenges. He emphasized that rice cultivation, a critical source of methane emissions due to anaerobic conditions, must transition toward sustainable practices to align with international climate goals such as the Paris Agreement. Anthony underlined the need for integrated solutions, focusing on precision tools for accurate GHG monitoring, bio-innovations to mitigate emissions, and financial mechanisms like carbon credits to incentivize farmers. He drew attention to the potential of technologies such as remote sensing, drone-based GHG assessments, and advanced modeling techniques to revolutionize methane tracking and mitigation strategies. By aligning these innovations with on-ground practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and residue management, Anthony highlighted a roadmap for transforming rice systems. He concluded by stressing the importance of a collaborative approach involving policymakers, researchers, and farmers to achieve scalable climate-resilient agriculture.

Panel 1: Advanced Modeling and GHG Measurements

1. Dr. Michael Gomez Selvaraj – Drone and Satellite Applications for Methane Monitoring  

Dr. Michael Gomez Selvaraj, a Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Cali, Colombia, shared insights from his extensive work leading the plant phenomics platform. His talk emphasized the transformative role of advanced technologies, including drones and satellite imaging, in methane monitoring for rice systems. Dr. Selvaraj presented a detailed overview of how these technologies enable high-resolution mapping of GHG emissions, allowing for real-time data collection and improved accuracy in identifying methane hotspots.

He highlighted the MethaneSAT project and demonstrated its integration with traditional gas chamber techniques to assess emissions effectively. Dr. Selvaraj underscored the scalability of these technologies for smallholder farmers and how they can be adapted for localized conditions. He also addressed the challenges of training machine-learning models to process data and provide actionable insights for climate-smart agriculture. His presentation concluded with a call to integrate these advanced monitoring tools into policy frameworks to enhance sustainability in rice-based systems.

2. Dr Amit Kumar Srivastava-Advancing GHG Monitoring with Geospatial Technologies

Dr Amit, Scientist II - Geospatial at IRRI South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi, India, delivered an engaging presentation on the application of geospatial technologies and remote sensing in identifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission hotspots. He highlighted the growing importance of precision agriculture in addressing methane emissions from rice fields, focusing on the potential of remote sensing tools to map and monitor emissions with exceptional accuracy.

Dr Amit demonstrated how integrating geospatial data with advanced modeling techniques enables a nuanced understanding of emission patterns across diverse landscapes. He showcased successful case studies where these technologies were used to identify high-emission zones in South Asian rice systems, paving the way for targeted mitigation strategies. His talk emphasized the scalability of these innovations, particularly for smallholder farmers, and their ability to inform resource-efficient agricultural practices. Amit concluded by advocating for increased collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and technology providers to harness the full potential of geospatial solutions for climate-smart agriculture.

Panel 2: Bio-Innovations for GHG Mitigation

1.     Dr Monali C. Rahalkar – Bio-Innovative Approaches for Mitigating Methane Emissions

Dr Monali C. Rahalkar, Scientist E at the MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, presented a compelling talk on bio-innovative solutions aimed at reducing methane emissions in rice-based systems while simultaneously improving soil health. She highlighted the potential of sustainable soil amendments, such as biochar and organic composts, to create favorable soil conditions that inhibit methane-producing microbes.

Dr Monali elaborated on how these practices not only reduce emissions but also enhance soil fertility and carbon sequestration, offering multiple co-benefits to farmers. She shared case studies demonstrating the efficacy of bio-innovative approaches, including their impact on improving water retention and nutrient cycling in rice fields. Additionally, she discussed the integration of microbial interventions, such as methanotrophic bacteria, to further reduce methane emissions.

Concluding her talk, Dr Monali emphasized the importance of policy support and capacity-building programs to scale these innovations. She advocated for collaborative research and farmer-centric approaches to mainstream bio-innovations for sustainable agriculture.

2.     Dr Pradip Dey – Natural Solutions for Methane Mitigation in Rice Systems

Dr Pradip Dey, Director of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, delivered an insightful presentation on practical, nature-based solutions for mitigating methane emissions in rice-based farming systems. He emphasized the importance of leveraging natural processes and sustainable practices to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining agricultural productivity.

Dr Pradip provided real-world examples of effective interventions, such as strategic straw and residue management, green manuring, and the adoption of aerobic rice cultivation techniques. He explained how these practices not only reduce methane emissions but also improve soil health and nutrient availability, offering long-term benefits for farmers.

His talk included case studies from Indian farming systems, showcasing the measurable impact of these natural solutions in lowering methane emissions without compromising yield. Concluding his session, Dr Pradip stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaborations and the development of farmer-friendly policies to scale these practices, ensuring widespread adoption and climate resilience in rice-based agriculture.

Panel 3: Carbon Credit Methodology for Low-Methane Rice

1.     Dr Sangeeta Lenka – Pathways for Farmers to Access Carbon Credit Systems

Dr Sangeeta, Senior Scientist at ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, India, presented an insightful talk on enabling farmers to integrate low-methane practices into carbon credit systems. Her presentation focused on translating sustainable agricultural practices into tangible economic benefits for farmers through participation in carbon markets.

She elaborated on practical low-methane techniques, such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), and the use of biochar, as effective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rice fields. Dr Sangeeta provided a step-by-step guide to the carbon crediting process, including certification, measurement, and verification protocols required to ensure compliance with global standards.

She also highlighted the financial incentives available to farmers, explaining how carbon credits can boost profitability while encouraging the adoption of climate-smart practices. Concluding her talk, Dr Sangeeta emphasized the need for capacity-building initiatives and institutional support to make carbon credit systems accessible and beneficial for smallholder farmers.

2.     Mr Ashwin A S – Guidelines and Certification for Farmers' Access to Carbon Markets

Mr Ashwin A S, Manager of Standard Development and Innovation at Gold Standard, delivered a detailed presentation on the role of robust guidelines and certification processes in enabling farmers to participate in carbon markets. He emphasized the importance of transparent and scalable frameworks to ensure the inclusion of smallholder farmers in carbon credit systems.

Mr Ashwin outlined the key steps involved in carbon credit certification, including baseline emission assessment, adoption of low-methane practices, and monitoring and verification protocols. He shared examples from successful Gold Standard projects, demonstrating how these certifications have helped farmers monetize sustainable practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR).

His talk also addressed challenges in integrating smallholder farming systems into carbon markets, such as high transaction costs and limited technical knowledge. Concluding his session, Ashwin advocated for collaborative efforts to streamline certification processes and develop localized standards tailored to the needs of diverse farming communities, thereby maximizing their participation in carbon markets.

Interactive Q&A and Concluding Remarks

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A session moderated by Anthony Fulford. Participants actively discussed the implementation challenges of GHG mitigation strategies and the practical integration of carbon crediting mechanisms into farming systems.

Outcomes

The session successfully facilitated discussions on:

1. Advanced technologies for precise GHG monitoring and mitigation.
2. Bio-innovations for methane reduction in rice systems.
3. Economic benefits of integrating low-methane practices into carbon credit frameworks.

Conclusion

The plenary session organized by IRRI at GSC 2024 exemplified a forward-thinking approach to sustainable agriculture. By combining technological, biological, and financial solutions, the event laid the foundation for actionable strategies to address methane emissions and enhance the profitability and sustainability of rice farming systems.