The Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Development and How Agriculture Can Adapt to Climate Change via Specific Forms of Agricultural Development?

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture on a worldwide basis is one of the most critical economic sectors in the world because of its contribution to food supplies in many countries. Agriculture has to face different types and levels of climate change in different parts of the world. Different countries and even different rural territories can be faced with different patterns of climate change. This means that solutions for agricultural development in one territory are not always the same in other territories and countries. Therefore, any adaptation of agriculture's development must take account of the specifics of climate change (and how this might evolve). Agricultural adaptation to climate change must, therefore, take account of the evolution of climate change in a territory and its impacts on agriculture and its development. Note that it can also be important to understand how the climate in a given territory has been evolving and what it might look like in, say, 30, 40 or 50 years’ time, and look for other territories in which the climate is similar to what these other territories already have to deal with. Farmers and other actors can, therefore, look at what the agriculture in these other territories looks like and if it is successful, and these approaches can be copied into their own territory. Other than the farmers, who are extremely important actors, we can also identify other actors who can participate in helping farmers adapt. Governments can help financially if it would make a difference; in addition, if different agricultural products might be useful to experiment with, then tests can be pursued if necessary, involving farmers both locally as well as some farmers in other territories with a climate that might look like what the initial agricultural territory looks like. Furthermore, some actors might also be researchers who could participate by undertaking an action research process with the farmers who are looking at how their climate might continue to evolve and what it would mean for them. What is critical then is to determine what forms of agricultural development can be used to begin modifying the agricultural development in the territory in which farmers are trying to see how they can cope with anticipated climate change.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Impacts of climate change on agricultural development: via water resources; phenology of different crops; cattle production; sheep production; chickens (meat and eggs); geese.
• Use of fertilizer and alternatives to fertilizer use; actors who can help farmers to adapt; roles of farmers themselves and groups of farmers; roles of government; alternative ways of helping/encouraging farmers to adapt to climate change.

Prof. Dr. Christopher Robin Bryant
Guest Editor

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• Adaptation to climate change
• Roles of different actors
• Farmers’ capacities to adapt
• Comparisons with other agricultural territories
• Quality of foodstuffs