CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
FOR RELEASE: Jan. 16, 2026
Kaitlyn Serrao
607-882-1140
Investment in farm productivity tools key to reducing greenhouse gas
ITHACA, N.Y. - A new study from Cornell University researchers finds improved farm productivity has been the driving force in keeping greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in check.
In the study, published Jan. 16 in Science Advances, researchers analyzed worldwide data from 1961-2021 to determine why agricultural production has far outpaced emissions. They found consistently that farmers’ ability to produce more output per unit of input, or higher productivity, was the main source of reduced emissions.
“There are environmental goals that you can achieve while increasing productivity,” said first author Ariel Ortiz-Bobea , associate professor. “We have to take a harder look at the cheapest, most efficient way of achieving those goals – and what we’ve seen in the past is that increases in productivity have also been the driving force for keeping emissions in check.”
Since 1961, both global agriculture production and emissions have increased, but productivity, growing 270%, has outpaced emissions, which have risen 45%. Still, agriculture and other land uses account for approximately one-fifth of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions, with reductions needed to slow global warming.
Ortiz-Bobea’s findings have implications for policymakers and for the direction of research and development (R&D) in agriculture, both in the U.S. and globally.
“If you look at U.S. agricultural productivity, for instance, we’re starting to see a taper that finds its origins in the stagnation in R&D funding over the past four decades,” said Ortiz-Bobea. “In a world with very limited resources, we need to better think about how we can design an R&D policy where we’re setting clear goals for what we want to achieve. Are we trying to produce more? Are we trying to reduce emissions? Can we do it both ways?”
The study’s results don’t pinpoint specific practices or policies that led to increased productivity and reduced emissions, but the researchers found evidence that technological advances that improve land efficiencies – such as improved fertilizers and seeds – play a larger role in reducing emissions than efficiencies in labor.
Funding for the study came from the USDA.
For additional information, read this Cornell Chronicle story.
Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews.
-30-
Science Advances