The agricultural sector is at a crossroads today. On the one hand, it is one of the sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). On the other hand, it holds immense potential for implementing solutions that can fundamentally change the environmental landscape.
The main challenge of our time, as noted in analytical reports by the OECD/FAO, is to meet the growing demand for food while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact. Emission reduction technologies (ERTs) play a key role in this — innovations and practices that enable a more sustainable and efficient way of farming.
What are emission reduction technologies (ERTs) in the agricultural sector?
They are a broad range of tools applied in both livestock and crop production to reduce GHG emissions without compromising productivity. Let’s look at the key areas.
1. Manure Management: From Waste to Valuable Resources
The storage and use of manure is one of the main sources of methane. However, this is where the greatest opportunities for innovation lie. The modern approach transforms what was a problem into a source of profit and energy.
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Covered Storages: Instead of open lagoons, which uncontrollably release methane into the atmosphere, modern practice involves the use of closed systems. Flexible tanks and lagoon liners from Flexsol are an ideal solution as they are completely sealed, prevent emissions, and preserve the nutrient value of manure as a fertilizer.
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Optimized Application: Using modern fertilizer application methods, such as hose systems, can significantly reduce nitrogen loss and atmospheric emissions.
2. Biogas Plants: The Pinnacle of Waste-to-Energy Technologies
The most effective technology for waste management is its processing in anaerobic digesters. This process not only avoids methane emissions but captures it and converts it into renewable biogas — a source of clean energy for the farm’s needs or for sale to the grid.
A key element of every modern biogas plant is the double-membrane cover (gasholder). It is this component that performs the most crucial function — the hermetic storage of the produced gas.
Flexsol is a leading manufacturer of membrane covers for biogas plants. Our solutions ensure:
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Maximum gas-tightness through the use of specialized European PVC fabric and high-frequency welding technology.
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Reliability and durability, even in aggressive environments.
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Operational safety through integration with control valves and sensors.
3. Crop and Livestock Production: Precision and Efficiency
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Precision Agriculture: The use of GPS, sensors, and machine learning allows for the application of fertilizers and crop protection products only where they are needed, reducing nitrous oxide emissions and saving resources.
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Feed Optimization: Improving feed and using special additives (for example, Bovaer, which is already approved in the EU) significantly reduces methane formation during digestion in cattle.
Barriers to Innovation and Flexsol’s Role in Overcoming Them
The OECD/FAO report rightly notes that high initial costs often hinder the widespread adoption of ERTs.
This is where modern and economically sound solutions from Flexsol play a key role:
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Affordable Technologies: Flexible tanks for storing manure and digestate are a much cheaper and faster alternative to capital-intensive concrete storages. They do not require expensive foundation work and can be installed in a matter of days.
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Biogas Expertise: We offer high-quality membrane covers that are the cornerstone of an efficient and safe biogas plant, making this technology more accessible to a wide range of agricultural enterprises.
The transition to sustainable agriculture is not just an environmental necessity but also an economic opportunity. Emission reduction technologies not only protect the environment but also turn waste into valuable resources (biogas, high-quality fertilizers) and increase the overall efficiency of agricultural production.
Flexsol offers proven, reliable, and cost-effective solutions that help agribusinesses join this “green revolution” today — from simple storage to energy production.
This article was prepared based on analytical materials from the OECD/FAO report (2025), OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, Paris and Rome.