COST‐EFFECTIVENESS OF GREENHOUSE GASES MITIGATION

MEASURES IN THE ANDEAN AGRICULTURE: 
AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

Cayambe, J.a *, Iglesias, A. a, Barrera, V. b

a Technical University of Madrid. Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences. Madrid, Spain.
b National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP). Quito, Ecuador.

1 INTRODUCTION 3 RESULTS
There is no information of a similar research in South American countries on Mitigation measures selected
GHG emissions
M1 High densities of C. Row crops,
Mixed farm systems (potato-pasture), is one of the main associations of
Management of organic soils avoiding deep ploughing
crops in the Andean region of South America.
Objectives:
M2 Legumes species can increase the
Estimate GHG emissions in the system Multipurpose fodder trees N, C content in soils
Look for possible mitigation measures through economic analysis (costs)
and the mitigation potential. Manure applied at the exact
M3
moment that the crop is going to
Manure management
use it.

2 METHODS AND DATA M4

Pasture management and grazing Pasture improvement and
fertilization. Proper GI
Transfer of intensity
Policy choices technology to
farmers M5 Promotes C sequestration.
Reduced tillage + Use of crop residues "Huacho rozado"

Marginal abatement MACp = (∆NMp) M6 Adopt new varieties

cost curves (∆GHGp) Cropland management agronomy =/> yield, but < fertilizer

Cost of implementing M7 Slow-release fertilizer or

alternative practices Calculation Nutrient management nitrification inhibitors
net margin
Mitigation potential of the
selected practices Cool Farm
Tool-program
Potential mitigation
measures
Literature
review. Meeting
of experts.
Characterization of the
farming systems and Survey to
baseline scenario farmers

Figure 1. Methodology to select agricultural practices with GHG

mitigation potential and cost-effective

Figure 3. GHG emissions in percentage in BAU scenario. A: potato crop.

B: Grassland. C: Livestock

Figure 2. Location of the study sites and production in the agricultural Figure 4. Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) for potato-pasture
provinces of the Andean region of Ecuador system in Andean Region

4 CONCLUSIONS
GHG emissions are caused mainly by fertilizers (potato) and crop residue
management (pasture)
M1 (Management of organic soils) is the measure more cost-effective.