Climate change and plant protection: challenges and innovations in disease forecasting systems in developing countries

Climate change poses a significant challenge to global agriculture, with profound implications for plant disease dynamics and plant protection strategies. This review aims to synthesize current research on the impact of climate change on plant diseases, particularly focusing on how these changes affect pathogen life cycles, host resistance, and disease distribution. Emphasizing the Indian context, this paper explores the adaptation of plant protection strategies in response to these challenges, including the integration of traditional methods and advanced scientific approaches. It provides a comprehensive overview of the key aspects of climate change relevant to agriculture, including changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and atmospheric CO2 levels. It delves into the direct and indirect impacts of these climatic changes on plant diseases, highlighting how altered environmental conditions influence pathogen virulence and the susceptibility of host plants. This section also discusses the shifted patterns in pest and disease distribution due to climate change, with a focus on the Indian agricultural scenario. Then it examines the current challenges in plant protection, assessing the limitations of traditional methods like chemical, biological, and cultural control in the context of a changing climate. It identifies critical areas such as increased disease incidence, pathogen resistance development, and the necessity for sustainable and adaptable plant protection strategies. Further it explores various adaptive strategies, including Integrated Disease Management (IDM), advances in breeding for disease resistance, biotechnological approaches, and climate-smart agricultural practices. It outlines how IDM principles and practices are being adapted to new climate scenarios, the role of genetic engineering and traditional breeding in developing disease-resistant varieties, the development of biopesticides and biocontrol agents, and the application of climate forecasts in disease management. Case studies and practical applications from different regions of India provide real-world examples of effective adaptation strategies, drawing lessons and best practices. The review concludes by identifying research gaps, advocating for multidisciplinary collaborations between plant pathology, climatology, and agronomy, and emphasizing the critical role of policy in supporting adaptive strategies. This comprehensive synthesis and analysis aim to contribute to the broader understanding of plant protection in the era of climate change and guide future research and policy-making in this vital field.

The advancement of plant protection strategies is integral to sustainable agriculture, food security, and ecological balance. While modern approaches i.e. chemical, biological, and technological - have contributed significantly to plant protection, they come with their own sets of challenges and limitations. Chemical methods, potent in their action, often result in environmental degradation, bioaccumulation of toxic substances, and the onset of resistance among pests. Biological approaches, although aligned with ecological principles, face difficulties related to scalability, variable effectiveness, and dependency on environmental conditions. On the technological front, innovative solutions such as drones, precision agriculture, and data analytics promise transformative change but are constrained by factors like high setup costs and technical expertise. Despite the achievements, there exist notable research gaps, especially concerning the long-term sustainability of these methods. Comprehensive studies are often lacking that holistically assess the social, economic, and environmental aspects of plant protection techniques. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the limitations of current strategies, identify existing research gaps, and suggest future prospects for making plant protection more efficient and sustainable. Areas for future research include the development of nano-pesticides for more targeted and eco-friendly applications, and the incorporation of adaptive methods to address challenges presented by climate change. The paper concludes that a multidisciplinary research approach is essential for overcoming existing challenges and for the development of more effective, sustainable plant protection strategies. Through an exhaustive review of current literature and case studies, this article serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners to navigate the complex landscape of modern plant protection methods, aiming to provoke thought and inspire action towards more sustainable solutions.

This Working Paper summarizes the results of a survey and a workshop, which were compiled and discussed by scientists of the research institutes Thunen-Institut, Julius Kuhn-Institut (JKI) and Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) in autumn 2016. The aim of the workshop and the survey was to analyze the state of knowledge on climate change adaptation in BMEL departmental research and the future challenges of adaptation to climate change in German agriculture and forestry. German agriculture and forestry is affected by primary climate impacts such as steadily rising average temperatures, altered precipitation patterns and increasingly frequent extreme weather events that vary widely regionally and seasonally. In addition, secondary climate impacts such as increased pest and infection pressure, problems with controlling rodents in agriculture and forestry, a shift in vegetation phases or a change in product quality lead to higher cultivation and production risks. Many income-generating factors such as rising tropospheric ozone concentrations and their interaction with pest infestation and extreme weather events are still largely unexplained. However, the CO2 fertilization effect, higher temperatures and the extension of the vegetation period also offer opportunities for German agriculture, especially for crop production. Compared to other regions of the world, production conditions in Central Europe are expected to remain stable and favorable for crop production in the future. This includes opportunities to achieve stable, high and possibly increased crop yields and to improve the competitiveness of German agriculture on the world agricultural markets.In part, adaptation to crop production systems and livestock farming can respond to climate change with relatively simple measures. However, further measures and, above all, strategies for dealing with the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events are needed. Overall, a region-specific orientation of production systems is becoming increasingly important. In the forestry sector, it is essential to identify the tree species and provenances best adapted to the future climatic conditions of individual sites and to integrate them into the stands. At the same time, the identification of the genetic information of individual resistance and tolerance traits to abiotic and biotic pollutants should be intensively researched and the results used for the targeted breeding of resistant trees.For agriculture, adapted and tolerant varieties as well as yield models are needed, that can indicate damage caused by extreme weather events as well as by pests, but also positive factors and interactions. Models are also needed as basis for evaluating risk management systems. There is also a need for the development of (digital) decision-making tools for the best possible and most effective fertilization time, targeted irrigation or the use of pesticides. Adaptation measures should be evaluated on the basis of their costs and benefits from an economic, environmental and social point of view. In order to be able to work out recommendations for the cultivation of individual crops at different locations, the scientific analysis of the risks as well as further re-search into the opportunities that could arise from the expected climate changes are necessary. [...]

A large number of plant diseases and damages are caused by insects and insect vectors of plant pathogens, leading to the serious threats facing plant protection and food security. The access to safe and nutritiously high-quality food is essential for human growth and development. This translates to a well-developed society with systematically organized efforts for maintenance and increased food production or supply to meet the continuous growing demand. The effects of environmental, biological, chemical, political and socioeconomic factors have all contributed to the present nature of food dynamics, its availability, supply and security. Hence, the development of safe bio-based substances should be prioritized for precise and effective use in plant protection strategies. This review examines the sequential results of the insecticidal potentials of unmodified short single-stranded DNA fragments used as DNA insecticides, and emerging tool for safe plant protection strategy.

Agriculture is profoundly affected by climate change, with regions like California and Italy experiencing significant challenges due to rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. Climate change is expected to reduce yields of specialty crops by up to 30% due to lower productivity and crop failure. To cope with climate change, farmers need to modify production and farm management practices, especially adopting agroecological principles. This mini-review explores climate change impacts on agriculture through an innovative approach that seeks to compare possible response strategies in two distant regions, California and Italy, which share similar climate conditions and crops. California’s agriculture, renowned for its specialty crops like nuts, fruits, and vegetables, faces intensifying droughts, reduced snowpack, and increased potential evapotranspiration, threatening water availability and crop yields. Similarly, Italy, a Mediterranean climate change hotspot, endures higher temperatures, declining rainfall, and frequent extreme events, impacting key crops like grapes, olives, and tomatoes. Both regions see vulnerabilities compounded by climate-induced pest pressures and water scarcity. Agroecology emerges as a promising solution to mitigate these impacts by enhancing soil health, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity. Practices such as cover cropping, crop diversification, organic mulching, and precision irrigation bolster resilience. Site-specific strategies and policy support are crucial for adoption, especially in small-scale farms. Collaborative knowledge-sharing between California and Italy can foster innovative solutions, ensuring sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in the face of climate change.

<p>Compound events lead to substantial risks to societies around the globe. As climate change is increasingly exacerbating the intensity and frequency of many hazards in vulnerable regions, ex situ responses to climate change including human mobility and displacement are starkly moving into the spotlight. Whilst proactive migration is often used as an adaptation response to the impact of climate and weather events, reactive migration following unprecedented climatic shocks is often involuntarily and can seriously disrupt livelihoods and undermine human security. The extent to which human mobility (here, measured by internal displacement) can be attributed to extreme weather and compound events and in turn, whether and to what extent extreme weather events and consequently human mobility can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change, has been largely unexplored. </p><p>Applying a framework based on probabilistic event attribution (PEA) of extreme weather events, we investigate, for the first time, human mobility responses attributed to anthropogenic climate change along a causal chain from anthropogenic climate change and changing frequencies and intensities of extreme weather and climate events to human mobility outcomes. We use the April 2020 extreme precipitation which lead to flooding and associated displacement in Somalia as a feasibility study to present the state of the art of this method. Our attribution model investigates two locations: First, we attribute extreme precipitation at the origin region of the extreme event to then attribute the resulting flood event in the displacement impact region. Event though the analysis shows no attributable link to anthropogenic climate change, our method advances the field of climate impact research regarding statistical approaches, model development and evaluation. For our feasibility study, we also find that sparsity of climate observations reveal one of many reasons for a lack of a climate change signal, which suggests an application of our model to other climate event contexts is needed to further test our method.</p>

Food Security Under The Era Of Climate Change Threat

BACKGROUND: Island communities such as Puerto Rico (PR) are profoundly impacted by climate extremes. Patients with chronic disease, particularly cancer, have unique needs and challenges in the aftermath of extreme weather events. Understanding cancer patients’ barriers, knowledge, risks, and vulnerabilities are essential to develop equitable adaptation strategies. This research aims to investigate the perceptions and experiences of cancer patients associated with extreme weather events over the past 10 years in Puerto Rico (PR). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study via survey questionnaires (April 22, 2023-June 8, 2023) among adults aged ≥21 years from Puerto Rico who are cancer patients/survivors (n=207). A total of 23 questions listed on the survey were used to collect information on variables of interest which included demographic characteristics, information on extreme weather event experiences, and attitude towards climate change. Using the data collected, descriptive statistics were used to describe the study population and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of interest (IRB approval # 2023-04-101). RESULTS: The average age of individuals recruited is 56.3 years ±13.5 SD, 79.7% are female, 65.2% reported having additional chronic diseases, and 85.0% have more than a high-school education. Regarding extreme weather events, 99% of cancer patients and survivors reported floods, including coastal, fluvial, and urban floods, impacted their communities, 76% reported tropical cyclones impacted their residences and communities, and 72% reported extreme heat impacted both their residences and communities in the last 10 years. Additionally, the most common problems encountered in the aftermath of these extreme weather events were water (88.4%) and electricity service interruption (91.4%), as well as water (88.9%) and electricity service interruption (77.1%). Most participants reported feeling very and extremely worried about their health in the face of climate change (75.0%) and feeling concerned about climate change (85.0%). After adjusting for age, sex, and education, logistic regression models showed that participants with more than one cancer type were more likely to be worried about their health in the face of climate change (OR=2.40,95% CI=1.06-5.35). CONCLUSION: Study findings highlight the burden of extreme weather events and the problems encountered in the aftermath of such events on cancer patients in Puerto Rico. This population expresses concern and worry about climate change and their health, respectively. This information is important for cancer control and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and management strategies to remove detrimental and avoidable impacts on cancer populations. Citation Format: Jimena Perez, Pablo A. Méndez-Lázaro, Fabiola A. Rivera-Gastón, Ana P. Ortiz. Assessing the impact of extreme climate weather events on cancer patients in Puerto Rico: A cross-sectional study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A114.

Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges, exerting profound impacts on both human societies and animal populations across a wide array of ecosystems. This mini review paper delves into the multifaceted and far-reaching consequences of climate change on animal health, shedding light on the complexities faced by various species as they grapple with the rapidly changing environmental conditions. From polar bears in the Arctic to coral reefs in the oceans, animals are experiencing disruptions in their natural habitats due to rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. These changes, in turn, affect their physiology, behavior, and overall well-being. One of the key challenges lies in the ability of animals to adapt to these swift alterations in their surroundings. While some species demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability, others face the risk of extinction, unable to cope with the changing climatic conditions. This review explores the diverse impacts of climate change on animal health, considering not only charismatic megafauna but also often overlooked species crucial to ecosystem stability, such as insects, amphibians, and marine life. It delves into the intricate interconnections between climate change and disease prevalence among animals, highlighting the emergence and spread of new pathogens in response to altered environmental factors. Furthermore, the paper investigates the cascading effects of climate change on animal behavior, including migration patterns, mating rituals, and feeding habits, which ultimately influence ecosystem dynamics. Recognizing the urgent need for action, this paper also proposes a range of innovative and practical mitigation strategies aimed at safeguarding the well-being of diverse animal species. These strategies encompass habitat conservation, sustainable wildlife management, captive breeding and reintroduction programs, and the implementation of climate-resilient corridors to facilitate species movement. Additionally, the review emphasizes the importance of international collaboration, policy interventions, and public awareness campaigns in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on animal populations. This mini review provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges posed by climate change to animal health, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to protect the rich biodiversity of our planet. By understanding the intricacies of these challenges and implementing effective mitigation strategies, society can work towards ensuring the survival and flourishing of diverse animal species in the face of ongoing climate change.

Natural and human-caused climate changes are strongly linked to the hydrologic cycle and freshwater resources. The hydrological cycle is a core part of climate dynamics involving all three common forms of water—ice, liquid, vapor—and the movement of water around the world. Changes in climate affect all aspects of the hydrologic cycle itself through alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, storm frequency and intensity, snow and ice dynamics, the stocks and flows of water on land, and connections between sea levels and coastal wetlands and ecosystems. In addition, many of the social, economic, and political impacts of climate change are expected to be felt through changes in natural water resources and developed water systems and infrastructure. Extensive research extending back a century or more has been conducted around the world on all the subsection categories presented below. Despite many remaining uncertainties, major advances in basic scientific understanding of the complex processes surrounding freshwater and climate have been made in the past decadet. New ground- and space-based sensors collect far more water- and climate-related data in the 21st century than in the past. Improvements in both regional and global hydrological and climatological modeling have permitted far greater understanding of water and climate links and risks. And more water management institutions and managers are beginning to integrate information about past and future climatic variability into water system planning, design, and construction. Recent observational evidence indicates that the impacts of human-caused climatic changes can now be observed in some regions for a wide range of water resources, including changing evaporative demand associated with rising temperatures, dramatic changes in snow and ice, alterations in precipitation patterns and storm, rising sea levels, and effects on aquatic ecosystems.

The rapidly evolving landscape of agriculture faces myriad challenges, including pests, diseases, and environmental factors that jeopardise global food security. The urgency of these challenges necessitates innovative plant protection strategies that are both effective and environmentally sustainable. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the advancements and considerations in plant protection, from traditional methods to modern technological approaches. Traditional practices, although eco-friendly, often fall short in efficacy and scalability. The advent of chemical solutions such as pesticides revolutionised plant protection but brought about environmental and health concerns. Biological controls offer a middle-ground, leveraging natural predators and bio-pesticides to combat agricultural threats. Technology is playing an increasingly critical role in shaping the future of plant protection. Sensor technologies and drones are enabling precision agriculture, enhancing the monitoring and application of protection measures. Genetic engineering holds the promise of creating crops resistant to pests and diseases, albeit amid ethical and safety debates. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a balanced, eco-friendly approach, is gaining traction, supported by case studies that validate its effectiveness and adaptability. Meanwhile, policy and regulation are evolving to better govern the use of chemicals, promote sustainability, and address the impacts of climate change on agriculture. This review explores future trends, particularly the influence of emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and IoT, and potential shifts in global policies towards more sustainable practices. It argues for the imperative of integrating these multifaceted approaches, guided by robust policies and regulations, to achieve the dual objectives of high agricultural yield and environmental conservation. It aims to provide a holistic understanding and guide future directions in plant protection strategies, emphasising the importance of adaptability, sustainability, and integration in facing the challenges of tomorrow.

Climate change affects forests, and forests affect climate change; they are linked together. Changes in global climate cause stresses on forests through elevated temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent and extreme weather events. On the other hand, forests and the wood they produce trap and store carbon dioxide (CO2), playing a major role in mitigating climate change. Actually, forests play multiple and vital roles in climate change: (i) they are a great reservoir of stabilized carbon, and their carbon sequestration potential can considerably be improved by appropriate management; (ii) they have the potential to absorb about one-tenth of global carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century into their biomass, soils, and products, and store them; (iii) they react sensitively to a changing climate, and when managed sustainably, they produce wood fuels as a benign alternative to fossil fuels; and (iv) they currently contribute about one-sixth of global carbon emissions when cleared, overused, or degraded. Forest soils constitute a large stock of carbon. By soil respiration, decomposition, and burning, a substantial amount of CO2 would be produced from the soil. Thus, forest soils may act as both a source and a sink of carbon dioxide. At present, however, they are carbon sinks on a global scale. Carbon sequestration in forest soils would decrease the rate of enrichment of atmospheric concentration of CO2. Increase in C stock of forest soils can be achieved through forest management, including forest conservation, fire management, afforestation, species selection, fertilizer use, and soil amendments. Forest harvesting and deforestation may decrease C stock, at least temporarily.

Persistent changes in weather patterns on a worldwide scale are a hallmark of climate change, which has significant effects on water supplies. Extreme weather events, altered precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures pose a hazard to the quantity and quality of water supplies. In this regard, droughts seriously disturb water supply networks, which lowers agricultural output and jeopardizes the health of ecosystems. Water resources are reduced as a result of droughts, which have an especially negative effect on industry, agriculture, and the availability of drinking water. Climate change and the growing frequency of drought occurrences underscore the need for creative and sustainable water management strategies. In this regard, an essential framework for the efficient and sustainable use of water resources is offered by integrated water resources management, or IWRM. The goal of IWRM is to balance various water usage needs while preserving the biological system by implementing a multidisciplinary approach to water resources management. The rise in drought episodes serves as an example of how climate change is affecting water resources, and the function of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in this process is explored. According to the study's findings, IWRM techniques can help people and ecosystems become more resilient while facilitating more effective use of water resources during dry spells. As a result, it is stressed how crucial integrated water resources management is to combating climate change.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between pandemics and climate change has emerged as a critical area of study, particularly underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in global health systems and environmental governance. Although direct evidence linking climate change to the spread of COVID-19 remains limited, rising global temperatures and ecosystem disruptions have intensified human–wildlife interactions, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease emergence. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to synthesize existing research on the interconnections between climate change and emerging infectious diseases, identify key knowledge gaps, and provide insights to guide integrated health and environmental policy development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published within the past two decades. Relevant studies were identified through scientific databases, focusing on evidence linking climate variability, ecosystem shifts, and zoonotic transmission dynamics. RESULTS: Findings indicate that climate-induced changes—such as rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and habitat disruption—affect vector ecology and wildlife migration, facilitating conditions for pathogen spillover. However, existing research remains fragmented, with limited longitudinal analyses and region-specific data to quantify these associations. CONCLUSION: The interconnectedness of human health, environmental health, and biodiversity underscores the need for a holistic One Health approach. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating climate resilience into public health strategies are vital to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and emerging pandemics.

The increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events resulting from climate change have led to grid outages and other negative consequences. To ensure the resilience of buildings which serve as primary shelters for occupants, resilient strategies are being developed to improve their ability to withstand these extreme events (e.g., building upgrades and renewable energy generators and storage). However, a crucial step towards creating a resilient built environment is accurately estimating building performance during such conditions using historical extreme climate change-induced weather events. To conduct Building Performance Simulation (BPS) in extreme conditions, such as weather events induced by climate change, it is essential to utilize Actual Meteorological Year (AMY) weather files instead of Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) files. AMY files capture the precise climatic conditions during extreme weather events, enabling accurate simulation of such scenarios. These weather files provide valuable data that can be used to assess the vulnerabilities and resilience of buildings to extreme weather events. By analyzing past events and their impacts using BPS tools, we can gain insights into the specific weaknesses and areas that require improvement. This approach applies to both existing buildings needing climate change-resilient retrofits and new building designs that must be compatible with future climatic conditions. Moreover, the intensification and frequency increase of these extreme weather events makes developing adaptation and resilient-building measures imperative. This involves understanding the potential losses that households may experience due to the intensification of extreme events and developing farsighted coping strategies and climate-proof resilient-building initiatives. However, addressing the knowledge gap caused by the absence of an AMY weather file dataset of extreme events is essential. This will allow for accurate BPS during past extreme climate change-induced weather events. To fill this gap, this article introduces a comprehensive .epw format weather file dataset focusing on historical extreme weather events in Canada. This collection encompasses a diverse array of past extreme climate change occurrences in various locations, with potential for future expansion to include additional locations and countries. This dataset enables energy simulations for different types of buildings and considers a diverse range of historical weather conditions, allowing for better estimation of thermal performance.