Dr. Frank O'Mara:

That can be the case. Generally, increasing the efficiency of a system is a good thing to do in that we are getting more for what we put in. That translates into reductions in an agricultural system and into reductions in carbon footprint, and it can translate into reductions in overall emissions as well. However, if there is not a reduction in the overall level of activity, there can be a situation where we are reducing the carbon footprint but we are increasing the overall emissions because there is more activity. That is not to say efficiency is not something we should not seek in any case. We talk about the sustainable production of food, which means we have to get as much food out for the inputs that we put in. Therefore, efficiency is a very important part of the repertoire of things we want to bring to bear on agriculture.