Pathways for Agricultural Decarbonization in the U.S.
This online engineering PDH course offers a comprehensive overview of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. agriculture and explores technological and land-based solutions for decarbonization.
This course examines both emissions sources and mitigation pathways across cropland, livestock, and farm energy use. It studies the scale and composition of U.S. agricultural GHG emissions where about 12% of national totals is dominated by nitrous oxide from soils (40%), methane from livestock digestion (27%), and methane/nitrous oxide from manure management (11%). Building on this foundation, the course explores mitigation strategies such as soil management improvements, feed additives, anaerobic digestion, and carbon sequestration practices like agroforestry, biochar application, and no-till farming.
This course emphasizes “crosscutting solutions” that provide benefits across multiple emission sources, including precision agriculture, integrated nutrient management, and renewable energy production. Also, it integrates case studies to show how targeted practices could offset more than current U.S. agricultural emissions. This course explores adoption barriers, farmer trade-offs, co-benefits, and research gaps to gain a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities in agricultural climate action.
This 6 PDH online course is applicable to environmental engineers, sustainability specialists as well as other professionals who are interested in implementing agricultural decarbonization strategies.
This PE continuing education course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Understanding the magnitude and sources of U.S. agricultural GHG emissions by gas and activity
- Analyzing mitigation solutions for cropland, livestock, and energy-related emissions, including precision agriculture, feed additives, anaerobic digestion, and irrigation practices
- Evaluating carbon sequestration pathways such as agroforestry, no-till, cover crops, and biochar application
- Identifying crosscutting solutions that provide benefits across multiple agricultural GHG categories
- Recognizing barriers and trade-offs for farmers, including cost, adoption constraints, and ecosystem service impacts
- Examining co-benefits of agricultural decarbonization, such as soil health, water quality, resilience, and farmer profitability
- Applying knowledge to integrate agricultural decarbonization within broader U.S. net-zero and climate resilience strategies
Upon successful completion of the quiz, print your Certificate of Completion instantly. (Note: if you are paying by check or money order, you will be able to print it after we receive your payment.) For your convenience, we will also email it to you. Please note that you can log in to your account at any time to access and print your Certificate of Completion.