Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to invite you to contribute to this topic "Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems". As humanity confronts the escalating challenges of climate change and its profound impact on agricultural sustainability, this research area has emerged as a critical focal point for researchers and practitioners alike. By investigating innovative strategies to reduce the carbon footprint in agricultural systems, we aim to address the urgent need for sustainable solutions, emphasising a systems-based approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing carbon sequestration, and decreasing nutrient losses while safeguarding food security, environmental integrity, and ecosystem services.

The aim of this Topic aligns seamlessly with the scope of MDPI journals such as Climate, Land, Agronomy, Grasses, Crops, Horticulturae and Plants, which seek to advance interdisciplinary research at the intersection of climate science, land use, and agricultural practices, considering fundamental and applied approaches. By exploring the nexus between carbon reduction strategies and agricultural systems (e.g., crops, livestock, agroforestry, mixed farming, and associated techniques, including decision support systems), in this Topic, we will provide insights that inform research progress and technological advancements whilst contributing to economically viable and sustainable land management practices as well as decision making and policy formulation.

We encourage submissions that explore a range of themes, such as those outlined on the website of the International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (www.iscraes.org/themes), referring particularly to ISCRAES 2024. This includes original research articles that deal with the fundamentals of biogeochemical processes and applied research investigating innovative farming techniques, reviews that analyse agri-environmental and climate policy frameworks, and case studies that showcase practical applications. We welcome diverse contributions that advance our understanding of this crucial topic mainly from Symposium participants.

Join us in this endeavour to catalyse meaningful change in agricultural practices and shape a more sustainable future for generations to come. Your contributions are invaluable in driving forward the discourse on a future of low-carbon agriculture and the increased resilience of agricultural systems, leading to carbon-neutral farms by 2050.

Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil
Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne
Topic Editors