Agricultural Adaptation Research Articles

Adaptation of Agriculture to New Geopolitical Conditions

Adaptation of Agriculture to New Geopolitical Conditions

A Comprehensive Review of Potential Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies in Agriculture in the Current Climate Change Scenarios

Climate change has a major impact on agriculture worldwide, but in certain regions, like India, this impact is more pronounced than in others. India's large population, heavy reliance on natural resources, and lack of coping mechanisms make it difficult for the country to adapt to the changing climate. India has experienced a notable warming trend over the past century, with an approximate 0.60 °C increase in temperature. This trend is anticipated to continue, possibly having catastrophic consequences for agricultural productivity and food security. Climate change is predicted to result in increasingly variable growing conditions for many crops, making it more challenging for farmers to schedule the planting and harvesting of their crops. Rapid reaction times and coordination are required to mitigate the consequences of climate change on Indian agriculture. This means implementing adaptation tactics, such as cultivating crop varieties that can tolerate high temperatures, promoting water-efficient irrigation techniques, preserving soil health, and enhancing climate resilience through integrated farming systems. India can lessen the negative effects of climate change on its agriculture sector and guarantee food security for its growing population by taking proactive steps and implementing sustainable farming practices.

Genome Sequencing of Lentinula edodes Revealed a Genomic Variant Block Associated with a Thermo-Tolerant Trait in Fruit Body Formation.

The formation of multicellular fruiting bodies in basidiomycete mushrooms is a crucial developmental process for sexual reproduction and subsequent spore development. Temperature is one of the most critical factors influencing the phase transition for mushroom reproduction. During the domestication of mushrooms, traits related to fruiting bodies have significantly impacted agricultural adaptation and human preferences. Recent research has demonstrated that chromosomal variations, such as structural variants (SVs) and variant blocks (VBs), play crucial roles in agronomic traits and evolutionary processes. However, the lack of high-quality genomic information and important trait data have hindered comprehensive identification and characterization in Lentinula edodes breeding processes. In this study, the genomes of two monokaryotic L. edodes strains, characterized by thermo-tolerance and thermo-sensitivity during fruiting body formation, were reassembled at the chromosomal level. Comparative genomic studies of four thermo-tolerant and thermo-sensitive monokaryotic L. edodes strains identified a 0.56 Mbp variant block on chromosome 9. Genes associated with DNA repair or cellular response to DNA damage stimulus were enriched in this variant block. Finally, we developed eight CAPS markers from the variant block to discriminate the thermo-tolerant traits in L. edodes cultivars. Our findings show that the identified variant block is highly correlated with the thermo-tolerant trait for fruiting body formation and that alleles present in this block may have been artificially selected during L. edodes domestication.

Farm adaptive business strategies in crisis management: COVID-19

The global COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted businesses worldwide, with rural businesses being no exception. This study examines the effects of the global crisis on upland farmers in England. It builds on the under-researched area of constrained rural entrepreneurship. Institutional theory is applied as a theoretical lens to understand how crisis events shape the constrained institutional contexts in which farm businesses strategically navigate. Using a qualitative, multiple case study approach, we explore how different farmers, traditionalist and entrepreneurial, have strategically responded to the aftermath of crisis-influenced constraints. Our findings highlight the importance of business strategy—particularly farm diversification—in helping farmers navigate these challenges. We provide a conceptual framework, the Farm Crisis Adaptation Framework, (FCAF) that theorizes farmer adaptation strategies in response to crisis situations. Our findings indicate a greater needed for rural policymakers to help develop the strategic entrepreneurship skillsets of farmers—helping farmers to future-proof their businesses against uncertainties. Moreover, investment is needed in the local and regional economy, establishing a conducive environment supportive of farm development strategies.

Tracking paddy rice acreage, flooding impacts, and mitigations during El Niño flooding events using Sentinel-1/2 imagery and cloud computing

The frequent occurrence of El Niño events, in the context of climate change, brings heavy precipitation and extreme heat, severely disrupting agricultural production. Previous efforts have focused on monitoring crop planting areas and evaluating affected crops during disasters. Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis, including crop planting area mapping, crop damage assessment, and mitigation effectiveness throughout the entire course of a disaster, has been seldom addressed. In this study, we built a comprehensive framework to rapidly investigate the areas of early rice, the extent of flooding impacts, and the post-flood mitigations of early rice during the El Niño flooding event in a typical rice production region – Jiangxi Province in 2023. Early rice planting areas were first mapped by integrating 15-day time series gap-filled Sentinel-1/2 datasets using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, based on a random forest classifier built with the 55 optimized training features. Then the flood-affected early rice map was produced by integrating the early rice planting areas and the Sentinel-1 images-based flood map. Finally, the post-flood newly planted rice fields were identified using the random forest algorithm and classification features from the Sentinel-1/2 images composited during four phenology phases of newly planted rice. The results showed the early rice planting area map, the flooding map, and the newly planted early rice map have overall accuracies of over 90 %. The early rice planting areas reached 120 × 104 ha, and an area of 3.60 × 104 ha (3 %) was flooded due to the heavy rain, and 3.43 × 104 ha flooded areas were newly planted, eventually mitigating the flooding impacts on the production of early rice. This study showcases the potential of all the available Sentinel-1/2 data, cloud computing, and well-established mapping algorithms for tracking rice areas, flooding impacts, and mitigations (i.e., after-flooding replanting) during extreme climate events. The established framework is expected to serve as an early warning system for agricultural adaptation to extreme climate events.

Collective and individual adaptation of rice farmers to climatic variability in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Collective and individual adaptation of rice farmers to climatic variability in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

A hybrid reanalysis-forecast meteorological forcing data for advancing climate adaptation in agriculture

Climate variability in the growing season is well suited for testing adaptation measures. Adaptation to adverse events, such as heatwaves and droughts, increases the capacity of players in agri-food systems, not only producers but also transporters and food manufacturers, to prepare for production disruptions due to seasonal extremes and climate change. Climate impact models (e.g., crop models) can be used to develop adaptation responses. To run these models, historical records and climate forecasts need to be combined as a single daily time series. We introduce the daily 0.5° global hybrid reanalysis-forecast meteorological forcing dataset from 2010 to 2021. The dataset consists of the Japanese 55-yr Reanalysis (JRA55) and the Japan Meteorological Agency/Meteorological Research Institute Coupled Prediction System version 2 (JMA/MRI-CPS2) 5-member ensemble forecast. Both are bias-corrected using the Delta method and integrated with a baseline climatology derived from the Environmental Research and Technology Development Fund’s Strategic Research 14 Meteorological Forcing Dataset (S14FD). The dataset is called JCDS (JRA55-CPS2-Delta-S14FD) and offers a framework for monitoring and forecasting applications towards adaptation.

Running to warmer-drier springs in the Greater Mekong Subregion as climate warms

Using the multivariate EOF analysis performed on the observation datasets, this study reveals that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has been toward warm-dry springs over most regions especially after the 2000s, accompanied by increased surface temperature and decreased precipitation anomalies. Such climate condition provides favourable environment for compound heat and drought events, raising questions about how the spring climate in GMS will change as climate warms. Based on a multi-model weighting scheme among CMIP6 models, we project the regional climate changes in GMS in a warmer world under the SSP5–8.5 scenario. Results show that the southern GMS including Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia will become warmer-drier throughout the 21st century in response to global warming. In contrast, the climate condition over the northern GMS including Myanmar and Yunnan province of Southwest China is expected to experience a transition from dry to wet springs in a warmer world, resulting in a tendency toward the warm-wet springs particularly in the long-term future. This knowledge indicates the spatial non-uniformity of regional climate under global warming and will aid in advance to plan for water management and agricultural adaptation.

Increasing concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets to reproductive heat extremes

Abstract In recent years, circumglobal heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent, motivating concerns about the concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets to heat extremes during crop reproductive periods. Here we project the likelihood of concurrent exposure of global breadbaskets of staple crops to widespread reproductive heat extremes. We find that circumglobal reproductive extreme heat exposure would be an agriculturally relevant climate feature in the coming decades. By 2028‒2057 (with approximately 2 oC warming above preindustrial levels), the probability of major breadbaskets of the world concurrently enduring at least 5 days of reproductive extreme heat over more than half of their croplands in a typical year is projected to rise from virtually unlikely to 0.43 for maize, 0.27 for wheat, 0.33 for rice and soybean. While as of 2050‒2079 (with approximately 3 oC warming above preindustrial levels), these probabilities would grow rapidly to 0.91, 0.83, 0.87, and 0.80, respectively. Should such dramatic increases in circumglobal reproductive extreme heat exposure occur, they could pose substantial stress on food production and agricultural adaptation, particularly when coinciding with agricultural droughts.

Small farms in Spain common agricultural policy (2023-2027): A critical review

The role of small-scale farming in forming a sustainable food system is significant due to its greater ability to support biodiversity, ensure food and job availability for the population in remote rural areas, and preserve the identity of local production. Accordingly, any Commission Agricultural Policy reform requires evaluation from this perspective. The aim of this study was to critically assess the potential for adapting the needs of small-scale farming in Spain's new Commission Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and to provide recommendations to address identified imbalances. Consequently, an analytical review of the agricultural sector was conducted, guided by statistical information, to investigate the main trends in the transformative changes within Spain's farming structure. The analysis of the political document allowed for the identification of component changes in line with the agricultural policy reform. The method of analytical-critical thinking was used to analyse the payment structure and fair distribution of funds for small-scale farming. As a result, the study identified weaknesses and disparities in Spain's new Commission Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and provided relevant recommendations that could facilitate better adaptation of small farms to the new agricultural policy. The provided recommendations can serve as a basis for further scientific discussion and improvement of agricultural policy. This research can be useful for stakeholders in making political decisions to better adapt to the stated ambitious goals of the new Commission Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan

Archetypes of climate change adaptation among large-scale arable farmers in southern Romania

Effects of climate change and especially the associated climate variability require farmers to adjust to increasing frequencies of extreme events. In the agriculturally highly productive Romanian Plain, the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves and drought have increased over the past 20 years. Although recent surveys revealed farmers’ awareness of climate change and enumerated a number of farm adaptation measures in the Romanian context, a systems approach to adaptation that allows conclusions on farm vulnerability and adaptive capacity is missing. Here, we use archetypal analysis to elucidate and characterize for the first time the types of adaptation responses of arable farmers in southern Romania. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 farmers managing 51,500 ha located across the southern lowlands of Romania, selected for their diversity of management approaches. Farmers were asked about experienced climatic disturbances, crop production losses during the most extreme events over the past 5–10 years, and the adaptation measures they implemented over that period of time. In addition, structural characteristics of the farm were recorded. The adaptation measures were classified and mapped on the efficiency, substitution, and redesign gradient used to classify sustainability stages. Results revealed three archetypes of adaptation, consisting of measures at field and farm level ranging from predominantly efficiency-enhancing ones (e.g., crop choice and management and risk insurance) to complete farm redesign involving agrotechnical and financial management changes. Structural farm characteristics did not explain differences between farms in their association with one of the archetypes. Our approach and results show for the first time both the need for strengthening farmer-level support in one of Europe’s key food production areas and the lessons that can be drawn from the outlier adaptation examples. Current European and national policies offer opportunities for farmer organizations in Romania to make these conclusions actionable.

Adaptation of Farmers in Bengawan Solo Watershed in Facing Climate Change

Currently, climate change poses a threat to agriculture, including in the Bengawan Solo watershed. This study aims to explore farmers' perceptions of climate change and understand the adaptations they undertake. The study was conducted in Mejuwet Village, Sumberrejo Subdistrict, Bojonegoro Regency, using qualitative. This study involved six informants, consisting of three farmers and three farm laborers. The selection of informants was based on the criterion of having more than ten years of experience in farming. Data was collected using in-depth interview and observation. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using an interactive model. The study indicates that farmers have knowledge of and can articulate the climate changes they have encountered, albeit with some limitations in understanding, and they actively participate in adaptation efforts. Farmer adaptation encompasses technical modifications like establishing planting schedules and methods, and choosing high-quality varieties. Cultural adaptation encompasses traditions like the wiwitan ceremony. Social adaptation involves using social connections and prioritizing investments in children's schooling. Lastly, economic adaptation involves broadening job opportunities and liquidating assets.

Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Global Crop Yields and Farming Practices

Climate change is recognized as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with profound implications for global food security. This review article delves into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on crop yields and farming practices on a global scale. By synthesizing recent research findings, identifying key challenges and opportunities, and exploring adaptation strategies, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex interplay between climate change and agriculture. The effects of climate change on agriculture are diverse and far reaching. Alterations in weather patterns, including shifts in temperature, precipitation, and frequency of extreme events, pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity and food security. These changes disrupt traditional farming practices, exacerbate water stress, soil erosion, and crop loss, and threaten the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide. Additionally, changes in pest and disease dynamics have further compounded the challenges faced by agricultural systems under pressure from climate variability. These challenges, there are opportunities for innovation and adaptation in the agricultural systems. This review highlights the potential of climate-smart agricultural practices such as crop diversification, conservation agriculture, and precision farming to enhance resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change on crop yields. investments in climate-resilient crop varieties, improved water management techniques, and sustainable land management practices offer pathways for building adaptive capacities and ensuring food security in a changing climate. addressing the complex challenges of climate change adaptation in agriculture requires concerted action at multiple levels. This review emphasizes the importance of coordinated efforts among policymakers, researchers, farmers, and other stakeholders in developing and implementing effective adaptation strategies. Such strategies should be context-specific, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable, considering the diverse needs and priorities of different regions and communities. This review underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to build resilient and sustainable food systems in the face of a changing climate. By synthesizing the latest research findings, identifying key challenges and opportunities, and exploring adaptation strategies, this review aims to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about the imperative of addressing climate change’s impacts on agriculture. Only through collaborative and transformative action can we ensure food security for the present and future generations in a rapidly changing world.

Climatic Challenges in the Growth Cycle of Winter Wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain: New Perspectives on High-Temperature–Drought and Low-Temperature–Drought Compound Events

Global climate change increasingly impacts agroecosystems, particularly through high-temperature–drought and low-temperature–drought compound events. This study uses ground meteorological and remote sensing data and employs geostatistics, random forest models, and copula methods to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of these events and their impact on winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain from 1982 to 2020. High-temperature–drought events increased in frequency and expanded from north to south, with about 40% of observation stations recording such events from 2001 to 2020. In contrast, low-temperature–drought events decreased in frequency, affecting up to 80% of stations, but with lower frequency than high-temperature–drought events. Sensitivity analyses show winter wheat is most responsive to maximum and minimum temperature changes, with significant correlations to drought and temperature extremes. Copula analysis indicates temperature extremes and drought severity are crucial in determining compound event probability and return periods. High-temperature–drought events are likely under high temperatures and mild drought, while low-temperature–drought events are more common under low temperatures and mild drought. These findings highlight the need for effective agricultural adaptation strategies to mitigate future climate change impacts.

Sustainability and adaptation dynamics in Global Food Security: A Bayesian Belief Network approach

This study investigates the dependencies between the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) and indicators related to sustainability and adaptation using Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) models. Methodologically, the study utilizes the forward and backward propagation capabilities of BBNs in GeNIe software to identify critical indicators. It also examines the predictive power of these indicators by analyzing their mutual value of information in Hugin software. Data utilized in the analysis include GFSI data for 2022 and associated sustainability and adaptation indicators. Key findings reveal the critical importance of proactive risk management strategies, sustainable agricultural practices, and effective governance mechanisms in shaping food security outcomes. Disparities between high- and low-performing countries in GFSI outcomes underscore the need for tailored interventions to address systemic vulnerabilities. High-performing countries in the food security environment exhibit a very high probability of 93% of achieving high performance in the national agricultural adaptation policy. Conversely, low-performing countries exhibit a very high probability of 91% of achieving low performance in the agricultural water risk – quality indicator. The study contributes theoretically by uncovering the complex interactions within food systems and practically by offering insights for policymakers and practitioners to develop targeted interventions. The implications of the findings emphasize the importance of integrated approaches and evidence-based policymaking to address food security challenges effectively.

Climate change adaptation and mitigation in Indian agriculture

Climate change adaptation and mitigation in Indian agriculture

Tezcalera, a traditional agricultural system that promotes native wild and agrestal germplasm conservation

Background: Traditional agricultural systems in Mesoamerica are adaptations of ancient farmers to the complex and varied environments. Tezcalera represents one of them. Questions: How is the environmental context under which the tezcalera develop? Which management practices are followed in tezcalera? How do these management practices affect weeds' richness, composition, and abundance? How do these management practices contribute to the resilience of the agricultural system, the tropical dry forests, and to the maintenance of subsistence resources? Studied species: Weeds growing in tezcaleras with different management. Study site and dates: Zumpahuacán, State of México, 2020-2021 Methods: Twenty-four collaborators were interviewed about the environmental, technological, and cultural aspects of tezcalera. We recorded weeds' richness, composition, and abundance in seven plots with different management histories. Results: Tezcaleras originate from the slash-burn process and follow different paths: tlacolol-milsol-shallow plot, potrero, and recently, Agave crop. We recorded 161 morphospecies from 45 botanical families; 95 % were native to tropical dry forests. Twenty-five species are endemic to the Balsas region, and thirty-four are at risk. Richness and abundance varied between tezcaleras, where tlacolol plots exhibited the highest values. Plant composition was similar; 65 % had intangible or tangible values. Conclusions: Tezcalera is a biocultural unit and a resilient agroecosystem. Traditional practices remain and positively impact the richness and composition of native weeds. The uncontrolled use of herbicides and the introduction of Agave crop are displacing traditional crops and modifying traditional practices, risking local agrobiodiversity.

Can markets for nature conservation be successful? An integrated assessment of a product label for biodiversity practices in Germany

Biodiversity is declining in many ecosystems, particularly in agricultural landscapes. So far, instruments such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have not been able to halt this trend. Stricter legal regulations tend to be poorly received by farmers and this leads to conflicts. However, their acceptance is crucial as agriculture is a major stakeholder in biodiversity conservation. In this context, market-based approaches are alternative or complementary instruments for biodiversity conservation. However, there are few examples in Germany and the potential economic feasibility on a larger scale has hardly been investigated. We, therefore, analyzed the economic and agronomic impacts of a potential new market label for biodiversity-friendly products on conventional arable farms in two German case study regions – Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) – with different agricultural frameworks. The label requirements were defined in advance by a group of experts in the field of nature conservation. In terms of methodology, we combined a survey of nine companies in the food sector, for instance food retailers, that looked at potential price premium scenarios for products with the label and economic land use modelling. The participation of farms led to an average reduction of gross margins per hectare of arable land of approximately 64 € in Brandenburg and about 96 € in NRW. This revealed spatial disparities. Regarding biodiversity impacts, pesticide use was reduced by about 50 % in both regions. This indicated a high level of effectiveness coupled with comparably moderate farm adaptation costs. Price premiums under the market label for potatoes, wheat, and rye averaging 10 % could almost compensate for the loss of farm income in both regions. Premiums between 5 % and 10 % were also the order of magnitude estimated by the companies that took part in the survey. At the same time, the survey did show that potential transaction costs could be quite high. We, therefore, concluded that the market alone was unlikely to finance the introduction of the label in the case study regions. There was a need for accompanying instruments such as the CAP or private business investment. However, given the case study character, the results should be interpreted with caution and cannot be considered representative of all German or European agricultural conditions. They require further research. Nevertheless, our results are highly relevant for policy makers, as they show that biodiversity conservation, at least in the study regions considered, cannot be tackled with one single instrument, but requires a mix of different ones. For instance, a combination of policies and private initiatives, such as the CAP and a private market label like the one considered in the study.

Assessing agricultural adaptation to changing climatic conditions during the English agricultural revolution (1645–1740)

AbstractThis article examines the impact of climatic variability on the English Agricultural Revolution using Allen’s Nitrogen Hypothesis. While half of the variation in yields can be attributed to nitrogen-fixing plants, better cultivation, and improved seeds, the remainder can be attributed to changing climatic conditions during the relatively cold period from c. 1645–1715 and the subsequent warmer phase. The study finds that farmers made even greater efforts than observed yields during the colder and more humid climate of the second half of the seventeenth century and the early eighteenth. Conversely, increasing temperatures in the following period had a positive effect on agricultural productivity, indicating that farmers' role during this phase have been overrated.

Climate change challenges: Case of the Thai agriculture business sector

Climate change and its effects are accelerating, with climate-related disasters piling up season after season. This study explores the impact of climate change on Thailand’s agricultural business by examining the views and experiences of stakeholders in the sector. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the study reveals the multifaceted challenges faced by the agricultural community. Participants highlight the disruptive effects of irregular rainfall patterns and rising temperatures on crop productivity and economic stability, exacerbating food shortages and livelihood insecurity. Additionally, the study underscores the critical issue of food security and the need for resilient agricultural practices. Furthermore, the inadequate integration of climate change education in the Thai education system and its implications for farmer adaptation are discussed. The study emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive support measures and a holistic approach to address climate change impacts on Thailand’s agricultural sector, ensuring its sustainability and the well-being of farmers.