«GREEN» PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURAL LAND USE: POTENTIAL FOR CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION AND EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT (CASE STUDY OF THE VORONEZH REGION)

Abstract

Using Voronezh Oblast as a case study, the article assesses the extent of “green” practices in agricultural land use, analyzes the spatial differentiation of the environmental burden from crop and livestock production, and estimates the potential for reducing the carbon footprint. It is shown that the total sown area has reached 2.6 million hectares, while the share of organic farms (18 certified) remains extremely low. The specific carbon footprint of crop production ranges from 100 kg to 1 t CO₂-eq/ha. Large livestock complexes in the western districts generate the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions from animal husbandry, whereas erosion prone and degraded lands (>1.6 million ha) are concentrated in the eastern periphery. A transition to “green” land use could reduce the region’s carbon footprint by 15–25%.