Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies of Agriculture in Mediterranean-Climate Regions (MCRs)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I find the paper very interesting.  

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Many thanks for your comments.

Kind regards,

Authors

Reviewer 2 Report

I read with great interest the manuscript entitled  “Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies 2 of agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions”. The review paper is well organized and written. There are only few suggestions that may improve an otherwise decent piece of research.

These are:

1)       (General) Water scarcity and water deficit are not synonymous concept. See Jaeger et al. (2013) for a clarification and Kampas and Rozakis (2017) for different alternatives methods for assessing the scarcity value.

2)      (page 3) The Figure 1 has a wordy title.  Titles should be short and concise.

3)     (General) Some vague and too general statements needs meticulous definitions. For example, Line 319 “efficient irrigation”, line 330 “institutional and social factors”, line 634 “right incentives” and line 374 “effective results”.

4)      (General) A careful proof-reading will eliminate some few language issues, for example Line 336 : “decisions….” ,  line 353: “… that affects everyone and everyone can affect.”, line 386: ” .. to continue research on adapting…”

Jaeger, W.K., Plantinga, A.J., Chang, H., Dello, K., Grant, G., Hulse, D., McDonnell, J.J., Lancaster, S., Moradkhani, H., Morzillo, A.T., Mote, P., Nolin, A., Santelmann, M., Wu, J., 2013. Toward a formal definition of water scarcity in natural-human systems. Water Resources Research 49, 4506-4517.

 

Kampas, A., Rozakis, S., 2017. On the Scarcity Value of Irrigation Water: Juxtaposing Two Market Estimating Approaches. Water Resour Manage 31, 1257-1269.

Author Response

- (General) Water scarcity and water deficit are not synonymous concept. See Jaeger et al. (2013) for a clarification and Kampas and Rozakis (2017) for different alternatives methods for assessing the scarcity value.

R: We agree, water deficit is more adequate for this article

- (page 3) The Figure 1 has a wordy title.  Titles should be short and concise.

R: We agree, but in this case Fig. 1 is a conceptual model and the core of the review article, therefore we think that an explanation helps for a better understanding of it.

- (General) Some vague and too general statements needs meticulous definitions. For example, Line 319 “efficient irrigation”, line 330 “institutional and social factors”, line 634 “right incentives” and line 374 “effective results”.

 

R: We clarified and rephrase the aforementioned terms as follows to reduce vagueness:

“efficient irrigation”: we meant in this case pressurized irrigation, however, attending a comment from another reviewer we rephrase the whole paragraph and this term was excluded.

“Institutional and social factors” we specify the factors as “a society that face environmental challenges”

Right incentives: in this case we meant effective and efficient policy incentives.

“Effective results”: According to changes in the text, this term is not in the paper.

 

- (General) A careful proof-reading will eliminate some few language issues, for example Line 336 : “decisions….” ,  line 353: “… that affects everyone and everyone can affect.”, line 386: ” .. to continue research on adapting…”

 

R: We proof-read the lines mentioned by the reviewer and rewrote as:

Line 336 (original version) “decisions….”: we rephrased the sentence as: Decisions are dynamic processes that requires a temporal and cross-sectional analysis [130].

Line 353: that affects everyone and everyone can affect: we rephrase the sentence as: affects and are affected by everyone.

Line 386: to continue research on adapting…”: we think is ok in attend to the original meaning.

Reviewer 3 Report

 Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies of agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions (MCRs)

This is a summary of the likely impacts of climate change on agriculture across the world’s Mediterranean biome. It is a straightforward account that sets out the chief predicted changes and then addresses the principal adaptations that will need to occur. Discussion of these adaptations extends to consideration of the decisions that farmers will need to make. Essentially, this is a review rather than original research, but it provides a good overview, drawing on relevant literature and it should be widely consulted as an indicatve guide to the likely changes occurring and the potential adaptations.

Its strength lies in summarising predicted climatc changes and then discussing the technical adaptations and responses that can be made. It is less good once it starts referring to farmer decision making, and there is very little consideration of the policy dimension. I don’t think that major changes need to be made but I think these two areas could be strengthened (section 4). Some of the following literature could be consulted to address this:

Asseng, S. and Pannell, D.J., 2013. Adapting dryland agriculture to climate change: Farming implications and research and development needs in Western Australia. Climatic change, 118(2), pp.167-181.

Dewulf, A., 2013. Contrasting frames in policy debates on climate change adaptation. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 4(4), pp.321-330.

Dono, G., Cortignani, R., Doro, L., Giraldo, L., Ledda, L., Pasqui, M. and Roggero, P.P., 2013. Adapting to uncertainty associated with short-term climate variability changes in irrigated Mediterranean farming systems. Agricultural systems, 117, pp.1-12.

Eriksen, S.H., Nightingale, A.J. and Eakin, H., 2015. Reframing adaptation: The political nature of climate change adaptation. Global Environmental Change, 35, pp.523-533.

Iglesias, A. and Garrote, L., 2015. Adaptation strategies for agricultural water management under climate change in Europe. Agricultural water management, 155, pp.113-124.

Leclère, D., Jayet, P.A. and de Noblet-Ducoudré, N., 2013. Farm-level autonomous adaptation of European agricultural supply to climate change. Ecological Economics, 87, pp.1-14.

Lereboullet, A.L., Beltrando, G. and Bardsley, D.K., 2013. Socio-ecological adaptation to climate change: A comparative case study from the Mediterranean wine industry in France and Australia. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 164, pp.273-285.

Mees, H.L., Dijk, J., van Soest, D., Driessen, P.P., van Rijswick, M.H. and Runhaar, H., 2014. A method for the deliberate and deliberative selection of policy instrument mixes for climate change adaptation. Ecology and Society, 19(2).

Raymond, C.M. and Robinson, G.M., 2013. Factors affecting rural landholders’ adaptation to climate change: Insights from formal institutions and communities of practice. Global Environmental Change, 23(1), pp.103-114.

Robinson, G., Bardsley, D., Raymond, C., Underwood, T., Moskwa, E., Weber, D., Waschl, N. and Bardsley, A., 2018. Adapting to climate change: Lessons from farmers and peri-urban fringe residents in South Australia. Environments, 5(3), p.40.

Rodriguez-Lloveras, X., Buytaert, W. and Benito, G., 2016. Land use can offset climate change induced increases in erosion in Mediterranean watersheds. Catena, 143, pp.244-255.

Vargas-Amelin, E. and Pindado, P., 2014. The challenge of climate change in Spain: Water resources, agriculture and land. Journal of hydrology, 518, pp.243-249.

 

Minor corrections

Line 55            agreed on to

Line 76            Chile means nearly …. Precipitation

Line 102          integrated

Line 160          compared with

Line 172          integrated

Line 181          change to agronomic

Line 183          short- and long-run

Line 188          of the cultivars   … rest of sentence does not make sense

Line 191          water-limiting

Line 216          marker-assisted

Line 225          genetically-modified

Line 226          your statement is not correct across the Mediterranean biome. Some countries, notably the United States, has approved and supported adoption of GM crops. Elsewhere, e.g. South Australia, this is not the case. It is important that this variability in national policy is stressed.

Line 239          zero

Line 241          compared with

Line 242          drier

Line 311          agricultural

Line 313          a smaller

Line 335          given the amount of work in this area by geographers I think geography should be added to the list

Line 340          one’s own perceptions? You mean the farmer’s own perceptions?

Line 347          there is a substantial literature that addresses this notion of the importance of place – please cite some it.

Line 357          public policies – you should say more about this. The manuscript is very light when it comes to considering policy responses.

Author Response

- It is less good once it starts referring to farmer decision making, and there is very little consideration of the policy dimension. I don’t think that major changes need to be made but I think these two areas could be strengthened (section 4). Some of the following literature could be consulted to address this:

 

R: we thank the reviewer for the literature. We found it very pertinent and relevant for our review. As suggested, we strength the public policy perspective of CC.

 

- Minor corrections

 

R: all of English proof reading were addressed.

 

- Line 226     your statement is not correct across the Mediterranean biome. Some countries, notably the United States, has approved and supported adoption of GM crops. Elsewhere, e.g. South Australia, this is not the case. It is important that this variability in national policy is stressed.

OK, the paragraph was changed

 

- Line 335          given the amount of work in this area by geographers I think geography should be added to the list

 

R: We agree, “geographers”  was included

 

- Line 340          one’s own perceptions? You mean the farmer’s own perceptions?

 

R: Yes we meant farmers own perception. To not mislead the reader we use this term

 

- Line 347          there is a substantial literature that addresses this notion of the importance of place – please cite some it.

 

R: References 121-136-137-138 supported the notion that was raised in this line.

 

- Line 357          public policies – you should say more about this. The manuscript is very light when it comes to considering policy responses.

 

R: We appreciate the comment. We add more discussion in public policy, as also requested by reviewer 4.

Reviewer 4 Report

Impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies of agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions (MCRs)

I enjoyed some aspects of this paper and generally only have minor corrections.

Title – confusing. Suggest reorder the sentence to Climate impacts and adaptation strategies in agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions. Or use another title.

 

Abstract, line 27: integrated strategies.

Abstract: try to reduce the repetition of CC (four times in one sentence line 20).

 

Introduction, line 47 – substantial socioeconomic impacts? Not clear what you mean. Please provide an example or explanation.

Line 55 – agreed to.

Line 57 – occupies.

Line 59 – economists

Line 71 – no comma after impact and before and.

Line 75 – rain

Line 76 – precipitation

Line 85 – these changes (not this changes)

Line 87- I don’t think you mean prolonged, but ‘over the longer term’.

Line 88 – add predicted to environmental constraints

Figure 1 – incentives

Line 102 – integrated

Line 108 – delete an

Line 110 – start of paragraph missing?

Line 138 – Better use (delete a)

Line 164 – It might be important to talk about fluctuating temperatures as well. Rather than only the effect of increased temperature, the effect of wider changes in temperatures, or longer exposure to particularly hot or cold temperatures. Increased likelihood of longer exposure to heat causing heat stress, more sudden cold, causing frost and a wider range of temperature fluctuations are expected impacts of cc.

Line 172 – integrated

Line 172-174 – repetitive, suggest delete after strategies.

Section 3.1 – genetic selection for drought resistant crops will also need to cope with higher intensity rainfall as cc predictions include more intense rainfall when it does rain. I’m not convinced this section is needed, suggest delete except lines 224-226, with only a little more detail to explain the tools and the socio-economic changes.

Line 188 – delete of

Line 188 – crop used plants?? Suggest just use crops.

Line 208 – characteristics

Line 239 – zero

Lines 252-267 – good!!

Section 3.3 – this is good, but if talking about symbiosis would need to also mention disease risk changes under future cc. Increased temperatures and increased rain intensity could likely lead to different pest and disease issues, or more problematic ones. Symbiosis may help in this regard but may not be enough to mitigate the potential impacts entirely, which in some cases might be severe.

Line 303 – land user and water user is not well phrased.

Line 304 – this connection is not clear. Suggest rewrite this whole sentence/add more detail referring to the importance of farmer decisions and support to maximise the benefits received from such considerable resource use.

Line 338 – open and close bracket do not match.

Line 357-368 – good!

Line 372- I don’t see how you have achieved this. Extension has barely been mentioned until now. Suggest rephrase to there is a vital need for science to link with extension to increase adaptation.

Line 374 – some authors sustain?? I can’t understand this sentence. Do you mean it is possible to adapt?

Line 379 – prepared. Yes indeed. If the climate changes too much in some areas, adaptation will not be enough and transformation may be required (out of agriculture, or completely different systems in other ways, which might have high costs, socially and economically). A statement here about that might be useful.

Line 383 – delete a

Line 389- as well as

Line 389 – deployed by crops (do you mean symbiosis? If so state it.)

Line 393 – indeed, and avoid food waste.

Line 404 – delete ‘the’ before ‘decision makers’.

Author Response

- Title – confusing. Suggest reorder the sentence to Climate impacts and adaptation strategies in agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions. Or use another title.

 

 OK, it was change to “Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies of agriculture in Mediterranean-climate regions (MCRs)”

-Abstract, line 27: integrated strategies. OK

-Abstract: try to reduce the repetition of CC (four times in one sentence line 20). OK

 

Introduction, line 47 – substantial socioeconomic impacts? Not clear what you mean. Please provide an example or explanation.

 

R: OK, the paragraph was changed

 

- Lines 55-138: English

 

R: English was corrected

 

- Line 164 – It might be important to talk about fluctuating temperatures as well. Rather than only the effect of increased temperature, the effect of wider changes in temperatures, or longer exposure to particularly hot or cold temperatures. Increased likelihood of longer exposure to heat causing heat stress, more sudden cold, causing frost and a wider range of temperature fluctuations are expected impacts of cc.

 

R: Cold and frost also have affect crop performance and yield, particular fruit crops and vineyards,   but in MCRs the risk for heat stress occur in late spring and summer, where the chance of cold or frost is zero.

 

Line 172 – integrated: Ok

Line 172-174 – repetitive, suggest delete after strategies. OK

 

- Section 3.1 – genetic selection for drought resistant crops will also need to cope with higher intensity rainfall as cc predictions include more intense rainfall when it does rain. I’m not convinced this section is needed, suggest delete except lines 224-226, with only a little more detail to explain the tools and the socio-economic changes.

 

R: We think that the strength of the this review is multidisciplinary and this include genetic aspect and plant selection

 

-Section 3.3 – this is good, but if talking about symbiosis would need to also mention disease risk changes under future cc. Increased temperatures and increased rain intensity could likely lead to different pest and disease issues, or more problematic ones. Symbiosis may help in this regard but may not be enough to mitigate the potential impacts entirely, which in some cases might be severe.

 

R: We have not mention pests and diseases in the manuscript. Certainly CC have great impact on them, but scape to the purpose of this review which is adaptation to abiotic conditions.    

 

- Line 303 – land user and water user is not well phrased.

 

R: we rephrased as: main land user and water consumer in line 304

 

- Line 304 – this connection is not clear. Suggest rewrite this whole sentence/add more detail referring to the importance of farmer decisions and support to maximise the benefits received from such considerable resource use.

 

R: We agree that the sentence could be improve and can also refer to other economic issues as employment and income. We changed the sentence to include these additional economic and social factors. We did not want to go into too much detail explaining the costs and benefits of use of natural resources to keep the introduction simpler.

 

- Line 338 – open and close bracket do not match.

 

R: We fixed it.

 

-Line 372- I don’t see how you have achieved this. Extension has barely been mentioned until now. Suggest rephrase to there is a vital need for science to link with extension to increase adaptation.

 

R: We thank the reviewer for the recommendation. We rewrote it in lines 378: “This review has revealed the urgent need of linking science and policy design to increase adaptation……”

 

- Line 374 – some authors sustain?? I can’t understand this sentence. Do you mean it is possible to adapt?

 

R: We think is clear enough

 

Line 379 – prepared. Yes indeed. If the climate changes too much in some areas, adaptation will not be enough and transformation may be required (out of agriculture, or completely different systems in other ways, which might have high costs, socially and economically). A statement here about that might be useful.

 

R: We agree and paragraph was added: However, more severe CC could lead to geographical shift of cropping areas and farming systems.