Improving carbon footprinting of agricultural systems: Boundaries, tiers, and organic farming

Using different boundaries, or generalized vs. site-specific EFs, can give not only different levels of precision but also fundamentally different answers. Policy based on averaged data or incomplete estimates may be misdirected. To support effective policy and individual decision-making that reduce GHG emissions and/or sequester more carbon, accurate and consistent assessments of the GHG emissions of agricultural practices and systems at a finer temporal and spatial scale are needed.