According to the FAO, agriculture is responsible for up to half of all methane emissions, followed by fossil fuels and waste.

Source : FAO

The AGATE (Agriculture Atmospheric Emissions) project aims to address the significant air pollution and environmental degradation caused by agriculture, particularly in regions with intensive farming practices. 

These areas often experience soil acidification, nitrification, and methane emissions, largely from livestock farming, rice paddies, and manure use. Furthermore, nitrogen compounds like ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are major pollutants in these regions, impacting air quality and the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. 

The project’s goal is to develop accurate and independent methods for estimating agricultural emissions of methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) using satellite observations, without relying on activity data or traditional emission factors that often carry high uncertainties.