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Many Mediterranean countries have experienced water shortages during the last 20 years and future climate change projections foresee further pressure on water resources. This will have significant implications for irrigation water management in agricultural systems in the future. Through qualitative and quantitative empirical research methods carried out on a case study on four Mediterranean farming systems located in Oristano, Italy, we sought to understand the relationship between farmers' perceptions of climate change (i.e., increased temperature and decreased precipitation) and of present and future water availability for agriculture as forecasted by climatic and crop models. We also explored asymmetries between farmers' perceptions and present and future climate change and water scenarios as well as factors influencing perceptions. Our hypotheses were that farmers' perceptions are the main drivers of actual water management practices and that sustainable practices can emerge from learning spaces designed from the understanding of the gaps between perceptions and scientific evidences. Results showed that most farmers perceived that climate change is occurring or will occur in their area. They also perceived that there has been an increased temperature trend, but also increased precipitation. Therefore, they are convinced that they have and will have enough irrigation water for agriculture in the near future, while climate change projections foresee an increasing pressure on water resources in the Mediterranean region. Such results suggest the need for (i) irrigation management policies that take into account farmers' perceptions in order to promote virtuous behaviors and improve irrigation water use efficiency; (ii) new, well-designed learning spaces to improve the understanding on climate change expectations in the near future in order to support effective adaptive responses at the farm and catchment scales.

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The ongoing climate change, which is threatening grassland agroecosystems throughout Europe, is also evident in the Italian grasslands. These systems, often located in marginal areas, are species-rich ecosystems characterized by variable, and often unreliable, grass and forage production and strongly dependent on interactions between climate, soil and agricultural management practices (e.g. land abandonment, lack of investments on innovation, stocking rates reduction, etc.), making them very sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. This review draws from the scientific literature the impacts of current and expected climatic changes on grassland and forage crop systems framed in three different bio-climatic zones of Italy, namely the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean, and focussing on i) grassland biodiversity and vegetation and ii) forage production and quality. The main aims of this review are to  i) revise the existing literature in the domain, highlighting different or common trends among different Italian biogeographical regions, ii) provide information on the main climatic impacts analysed and drivers involved in the studied evolutions, and iii) point out the knowledge gaps currently pending in order to hypothesize the future scenarios of research in this sector. Even if this review has pointed out differences in approaches, adopted methodologies and purposes of conducted researches, some common trends can be highlighted, though located in three different environments. Expected warming and modification on rainfall pattern will produce deep changes in vegetation of grassland types, with reduction or the disappearance of cold tolerant species and a spread of xeric/termophilous ones and shrubby vegetation and with a general upward shift of vegetation types in mountain areas. Moreover, a general reduction of aboveground biomass is expected, as summer droughts is considered a main driver able to force grassland productivity. Finally, warming and rainfall reduction are considered the main factors able to reduce forage quality and palatability of grasslands, as a consequence of reduction of nitrogen content in the available biomass and of the higher spread of less unpalatable species and shrubs.  The hypothesis is that the information gained from this review can provide insights on the current level of knowledge on the expected impacts of climate change on Italian grassland systems, and support the development of policy strategies for adaptation at national level.