3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
Sustainability Production Indicators
In line with the historical EU promotion of intensive agricultural production through the
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission’s 1999 Communication on
Directions towards sustainable agriculture incorporated the promotion of environmentally
sustainable production processes and outcomes. 125
The emphasis has shifted from simply sustaining intensive production levels to increasing
production levels that are ecologically sustainable. Achieving higher yields and value added
entails more effective application of inputs while simultaneously reducing detrimental and
unwanted outputs.
There are several sustainability indicators for assessing Luxembourg’s progress in the
agriculture sector. Regarding climate change, the agriculture sector was responsible for 5.65%
of the nation’s total GHG emissions – or approximately 614,000 metric tonnes (mt) in 2012.
Emissions from agricultural soils constituted the largest fraction (45.3%, 278,000 mt), followed
by enteric fermentation (35.8%, 220,000 mt) and manure management (18.9%, 116,000 mt).
Land-based CO 2- equivalent emissions were reduced through LULUCF (forestry) activities by
515,000 mt between 1990 and 2012, along with 46,000 mt reduced from grasslands during the
same time period. 126 Overall, agriculture emissions declined 10.2% even while cropland
expansion increased emissions by 37,000 mt. These data are shown in the three charts below.
125 EC (1999) Communication on Directions towards sustainable agriculture, COM (1999) 22 final, January 27, 1999.
126 LULUCF stands for Land use, land-use change and forestry.
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