QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Aug 2026) – Pinoy farmers could soon help cut the country’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 18% over the next two decades while boosting crop yields at the same time.
According to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), combining climate adaptation strategies with targeted emission reduction measures can significantly shrink the environmental footprint of local farming.
Agriculture is caught in a tough double bind
Local agriculture faces a tricky dual challenge. The sector is responsible for about 23% of the Philippines’ total greenhouse gas emissions, primarily driven by rice fields and livestock waste. At the same time, it bears the heaviest burden from natural disasters, suffering an average of PHP 44 billion (approx. $772 million) in annual property damage from 2012 to 2022. That damage represents 60% of all disaster-related property losses nationwide.
In their paper titled “Culprit and Victim: Scenarios for Philippine Agriculture amidst Climate Change,” PIDS Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Briones and former Supervising Research Specialist Ivory Myka Galang examined three possible futures for local farming using economic modeling.
Why adaptation alone is not enough
The study revealed that simply adapting to climate change without cutting emissions can actually backfire on the environment. Under a reference scenario continuing current trends, farm emissions will rise by 24% between 2025 and 2045. If the government spends more on climate adaptation alone, agricultural output increases, pushing Gross Value Added growth up by 0.38 percentage points. However, that extra activity also drives farm emissions up by 29%.
To prevent higher emissions, adaptation must be paired with active mitigation efforts. When both strategies are combined, projected agricultural emissions drop by 18% over the same 20-year period.
Simple tech that makes a massive difference
The report highlights practical solutions that cut emissions without hurting productivity.
In rice production, which stands as the largest source of farm emissions, adopting Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) can cut methane emissions by 40%. The technique periodically drains rice fields instead of keeping them continuously flooded, conserving water while maintaining grain output.
For livestock, improved manure management and biogas digesters can capture methane from animal waste and turn it into usable energy.
Supporting smallholder farmers is key
While agriculture has not set an unconditional national target, researchers estimate the sector could eliminate 211 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent through smart policies.
The authors stress that government agencies must step up financial and technical support, especially for smallholder Pinoy farmers. Providing access to low-emission tools ensures that green initiatives protect food security and local farm competitiveness instead of hurting everyday livelihoods.
