Farm Carbon Footprint Measurement for Sustainable Agrifood Systems
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Systems and Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2026 | Viewed by 38
Special Issue Editors
Interests: econometrics; sustainable agriculture; policy evaluation; consumer preference; market analysis; environmental economics; food security; quantitative methods
Interests: econometrics; agri-food markets; causal interference; policy evaluation; market analysis; environmental economics; food security; quantitative methods
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Carbon footprint measurement in agriculture has evolved significantly since the early 2000s, driven by international climate commitments and the agricultural sector’s substantial contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions (10-12% of anthropogenic emissions). Standardized methodologies—including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), IPCC guidelines, and ISO 14064 standards—have progressively refined farm-level emission quantification. Recent decades have witnessed enhanced computational capacity, improved emission factor databases, and growing demand for carbon-neutral food production, necessitating robust measurement frameworks.
This Special Issue addresses methodological advances and practical applications in quantifying carbon footprints across diverse agricultural systems. We seek research encompassing measurement protocols, emission factor development, spatial and temporal variability in farm emissions, carbon sequestration, and verification mechanisms. The scope includes crop and livestock production systems, organic versus conventional farming comparisons, and integrated approaches linking carbon accounting with farm management decisions and policy frameworks.
We prioritize research employing innovative measurement techniques—remote sensing, process-based modeling, machine learning algorithms for emission prediction, and blockchain-enabled traceability systems. Studies integrating uncertainty analysis, addressing data gaps in developing regions, and validating emerging technologies against conventional measurement approaches are particularly valued.
We invite original empirical research, methodological innovations, comprehensive reviews, and case studies demonstrating rigorous measurement protocols, cross-system comparisons, and policy-relevant applications. Submissions should provide actionable insights for reducing agricultural emissions while maintaining productivity and economic viability.
Dr. Simona Roxana Pǎtǎrlǎgeanu
Dr. Mihai Dinu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- carbon footprint
- greenhouse gas emissions
- life cycle assessments
- agricultural systems
- emission quantification
- carbon sequestration
- climate change mitigation
- farm-level measurement
- sustainability assessment
- agrofood systems
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
