Abstract: Adaptation of agricultural systems to climate uncertainties requires the construction of scenarios that should take into account the complexities of socio-ecological systems of a specific local context. Adaptation scenarios of agricultural systems are not making forecasts or predictions, but prospective futures or future paths. They can facilitate our understanding of how systems work and evolve. Adaptation processes of agricultural systems involve a variety of changes in local practices and social organization. The development of adaptation scenarios at farm level entails a clear understanding of farmers’ frames that are mediated by their interests, experiences and internal and external forces. Farmers’ frames is the way in which farmers frame climate issues emphasizing vulnerabilities, uncertainties and opportunities (i.e: impacts on their farming systems) and open the window for searching adaptation strategies. This study reports on the methodologies for the development of explorative scenarios (i.e., scenarios that explore the future from a variety of perspectives) for the climate change adaptation of four agricultural systems (intensive dairy cattle, extensive dairy sheep, rice farming and horticulture) in the Oristano regional pilot study in Italy. Explorative scenarios were used to explore trends into the future from the past and present. Three research steps were followed: (i) in the first step farmers’ perceptions and prospective through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were analysed; (ii) in the second step the evolution of the agricultural systems (i.e. temporal and spatial) was evaluated; (iii) the third step examined multiple stakeholders’ outlooks about farm-level possible adaptive strategies through interactive workshops.

Abstract: Climate change poses a major challenge for farmers, but agricultural sustainability, mitigation, and adaptation can effectively decrease climate impacts on agricultural systems. Changes in farming practices are necessary to reduce emissions and to adapt to climate change. However, such modifications to common practices depend, to a large extent, on farmers’ knowledge and attitudes towards climate risks. An empirical study of farmers’ attitudes and knowledge of climate change mitigation and adaptation practices is useful to understand how farmers’ knowledge influences their attitudes and practices towards climate change mitigation and adaptation. Based on a case study characterised by four agricultural farming systems (extensive dairy sheep, intensive dairy cattle, horticultural farming, and rice farming) in the Province of Oristano in Italy, this study contains an investigation of (i) farmers’ knowledge of climate change causes and effects, how they construct such knowledge, and how they adapt to the phenomenon; (ii) what and how are farmers’ attitudes towards climate change causes are shaped under their contextual social interests and values; and (iii) if their practices in responding to climate variability are influenced by their constructed knowledge. The research results showed that farmers’ declarative knowledge of climate change did not affect their adaptation practices but directed farmers’ attitudes towards climate change causes. The findings also underscore the necessity of facilitating social learning spaces for enhancing virtuous behaviours towards climate change mitigation and the sharing and co-production of procedural knowledge for developing shared sustainable climate adaptation practices at the farm level.

Abstract: Soils are vital for supporting food security and other ecosystem services. Climate change can affect soil functions both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include temperature, precipitation, and moisture regime changes. Indirect effects include those that are induced by adaptations such as irrigation, crop rotation changes, and tillage practices. Although extensive knowledge is available on the direct effects, an understanding of the indirect effects of agricultural adaptation options is less complete. A review of 20 agricultural adaptation case-studies across Europe was conducted to assess implications to soil threats and soil functions and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The major findings are as follows: (a) adaptation options reflect local conditions; (b) reduced soil erosion threats and increased soil organic carbon are expected, although compaction may increase in some areas; (c) most adaptation options are anticipated to improve the soil functions of food and biomass production, soil organic carbon storage, and storing, filtering, transforming, and recycling capacities, whereas possible implications for soil biodiversity are largely unknown; and (d) the linkage between soil functions and the SDGs implies improvements to SDG 2 (achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture) and SDG 13 (taking action on climate change), whereas the relationship to SDG 15 (using terrestrial ecosystems sustainably) is largely unknown. The conclusion is drawn that agricultural adaptation options, even when focused on increasing yields, have the potential to outweigh the negative direct effects of climate change on soil degradation in many European regions.