An overview of ongoing and planned climate adaptation measures in European crop production shows vast regional differences. Southern Europe has the highest number of climate change initiatives and is also the region that, according to researchers from among other Aarhus University, will experience the most negative impacts due to increased drought and extreme heat. According to the researchers, there is a great need for further focus and political awareness if European agriculture is to adapt to future climatic conditions.
We are already experiencing it. Heat waves and droughts hit large parts of Europe during the summertime, particularly in the southern part of the continent. Winters have become milder and more wet in the north. Both are trends that will continue in the future and will affect our agriculture and not least food security. But has it already affected the way we farm? What changes are being seen in practice in different parts of Europe? And what does the future hold for European agriculture? A group of researchers from 24 European research institutions, led by Aarhus University, has investigated this.
"So far, only data from field experiments and different crop models have been used to assess different measures to adapt to climate change. But this approach has its limitations, so we have gathered knowledge from a wide range of experts across Europe, in 15 European countries to be precise," says Professor and Head of Department Jørgen E. Olesen from the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University.
Read more at Aarhus University
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