New Research Shows Climate and Yield Tradeoffs in Farming

By Blake Jackson

A new global study led by researchers at Cornell University has found that while regenerative farming methods help address climate change, they may also reduce crop yields in many regions. 

The findings offer a deeper understanding of the tradeoffs between soil carbon practices and food production.

Published in Nature Climate Change, the study modeled the effects of four common soil practices - no tilling, planting grass and legume cover crops, and leaving crop residues.

The simulations extended through 2100 and examined impacts on soil carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, and crop productivity.

“For the first time, we can have contextualized information about how farmers can choose the optimal mix of practices that meet their needs to maintain crop yields while also providing climate change mitigation,” said Dominic Woolf, principal investigator at Cornell University.

The results showed that no-till practices and grass cover crops deliver strong climate benefits but can reduce yields—especially in dry climates where crops compete for water. Legume cover crops performed better for yields but had reduced carbon gains.

The combination of cover crops and no tilling proved most effective for increasing soil carbon, though nitrous oxide emissions—a potent greenhouse gas—sometimes offset those benefits. Reducing nitrogen inputs may help curb these emissions.

Lead author Shelby McClelland explained, “If you do both those practices together, in many cases, that allows you to increase soil organic carbon much faster than individual practices alone.”

The study showed that in order to maintain food supply for a growing population, global carbon mitigation through agriculture would be 85% lower if yield losses are avoided.

The research team includes experts from the Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, Colorado State University, and more. 

Funding was provided by a range of agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Bezos Earth Fund, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The study highlights the importance of tailoring farm practices to regional conditions to support both sustainability and food production.

Photo Credit: cornell-university