Adaptation to climate change and climate variability: The importance of understanding agriculture as performance

Abstract

a b s t r a c tMost climate change studies that address potential impacts and potential adaptation strategies are largely based on modelling technologies. While models are useful for visualizing potential future outcomes and evaluating options for potential adaptation, they do not adequately represent and integrate adaptive human agency. Richards' concept of 'agriculture as performance' is useful in counterbalancing the modelling approach to adaptation because it highlights how adaptive processes and technologies, whether short term or long term, are more than simple technical responses to biophysical conditions. Instead, adaptive processes are social phenomena whose significance and effects expand well beyond changing climate conditions. This examination of agriculture as performance in the context of climate adaptation draws on two different examples. The first example explores how technical aspects of climate adaptation in Mali are situated within the enactment of ethnic identities and political struggles between farmers and herders. The second example shows how farmers in southeastern United States approach climate variability and climate forecasts as risk management tools. There are substantial differences between approaching adaptation as a dynamic process that is socially embedded and approaching adaptation as a set of modelled responses to anticipated future conditions. It is unlikely that either is adequate to meet the challenges posed by the uncertainties associated with climate change. However, building a synergistic relationship between the two promises to be as difficult as it is necessary.

Yield Stability in Winter Wheat Production: A Survey on German Farmers’ and Advisors’ Views

“…Earlier sowing dates are expected to use as much of the winter precipitation as possible, which can prolong the growing season. Thus, this allows the introduction of cultivars which have a longer development period [6]. On the other hand, earlier sowing also comes with risks, e.g., of increased virus and fungal disease pressure.…”

“…These future climatic changes and increasing climatic variability are already scientifically proven within specific scenarios for German field conditions [4,5]. Outside of Germany, an increasing demand of yield stable wheat cultivars that are adapted to climate change has been observed [6][7][8]. However, recent German studies suggest a special and enhanced interest from farmers in improving yield stability of wheat cultivars [9][10][11].…”

Upper Midwest farmer perceptions: Too much uncertainty about impacts of climate change to justify changing current agricultural practices

“…For example, Morton et al (2015) report that experience with saturated soils was significantly associated with increased drainage use, less use of no-till and cover crops, and increased likelihood of planting on highly erodible lands. While farmers have some routine level of experience in dealing with uncertain seasonal weather variability (Walthall et al 2012), they are experiencing increases in the range of variability (Crane et al 2011). This increased variability may be a source of uncertainty, as the local impacts of weather could seem to be sufficiently unpredictable to warrant a "wait-and-see" attitude rather than a decisive response.…”

Weather, Climate, and Resource Information Should Meet the Needs of Sahelian Pastoralists

“…In many drylands of the tropics, agricultural and pastoral systems have adapted to erratic weather 2 patterns, including droughts, excessive rainfall, strong winds, and temperature extremes, which are has been an increasing focus on providing better weather and seasonal climate information to 6 farmers in order to improve decision-making (Crane et al, 2011). Prominent studies from Africa, information needs of the estimated 50 million pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa (Weibel, 2010).…”