FAO – Enviromental Outcomes in Agriculture

Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 20 percent of global emissions coming from the sector. International trade of agricultural products also plays a role in driving deforestation-related emissions. Regional trade agreements (RTAs) increasingly include environment-related provisions (ERPs) to promote environmental protection and tackle emissions in agriculture. Studies have shown positive effects of ERPs on environmental outcomes, including a reduction in agriculture-related GHG emissions. An analysis by FAO utilizing novel data on agriculture-related ERPs in RTAs found that these provisions are associated with a decrease in GHG emissions from agriculture. The reduction in emissions could be due to hindered trade in agricultural products, more environmentally-friendly agricultural production, or stricter domestic environmental regulations induced by ERPs. The study also explored the effects of ERPs on other environmental outcomes such as the establishment of protected areas and fishery intensity. The report reviews relevant literature, data, estimation methodologies, and presents the results of the analysis. These findings suggest that ERPs in RTAs can have a positive impact on reducing agricultural emissions and other pollutants, highlighting the importance of environmental provisions in trade agreements for addressing environmental challenges in agriculture.