2. Material and methods
2.1. Methodology
The paper proposes an innovative approach in which two
different methodologies are combined:
(i) ex-ante estimation of the mitigation potential of cli-
mate-smart agriculture (CSA) investments using different
land use scenarios and baseline emissions levels; and
(ii) identification of the most efficient solution by esti-
mating the marginal abatement costs (MAC) of available
options.
Even if the methodologies have been already developed
elsewhere, as thoroughly described in what follows, they
have been applied together for the first time in the present
paper. A two-phase analytical methodology has in fact been
adopted here: the unitary abatement potential of CSA tech-
nologies estimated through the first phase will represent the
basis for computing the MAC curves in the second method-
ological step.
A second element of innovativeness of the present work
is represented by its application to national agriculture in-
vestment plans which highlight policy priority areas for the
development of African countries. Since such plans are de-
veloped and reviewed systematically, several perspectives
for future wider application of the proposed methodology
exist.