Final Report Summary - ADAGIO (Adaptation of agriculture in European regions at environmental risk under climate change)
The ADAGIO project aimed to formulate recommendations on options for the mitigation of climate change effects in agriculture through the categorisation and extensive examination of large European regions. The project focused on methods to integrate climate change adaptation into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and rural development programmes and therefore contributed to the conceptualisation and implementation of European strategies.
ADAGIO applied a bottom-up approach to integrate decision makers' feedback on local levels via the use of interviews and questionnaires. Moreover, previous research efforts were reviewed and evaluated. Information was transferred from farm and regional to national and international levels. The potential risks and the alternative adaptation measures were therefore firstly identified and evaluated within a regional context.
The project highlighted that farmers resisted introducing simple adaptation measures which were recommended by scientists, since they were usually not aware of the already identified climatic change impacts. In addition, significant differences in agricultural production conditions were revealed, resulting in the development of rules for an effective promotion of strategies based on regionalisation of the implemented policies. Scenarios were also elaborated to identify the principal vulnerabilities and possible climatic impacts in the sector, so as to provide adjustment solutions for the present as well as for the following decades.
Different countries were grouped in three categories, namely the central European countries, the eastern European participants and the members from the Mediterranean. Various tools were subsequently utilised by local ADAGIO members to perform pilot assessments of both regional and international validity.
The optimisation of sowing and transplanting time along with the selection of varieties and species among existing alternatives were pinpointed as the most feasible and fast options in the Mediterranean. In addition, the benefits of proper irrigation management and implementation of innovative practices to increase water efficiency were noted and midterm solutions were identified.
The central European region consisted of various climatic types and included numerous farm structures and socioeconomic conditions. Despite this heterogeneity, the anticipated effects of drought were common in all arable lands and resulted in recommendations regarding the efficient use of agricultural, soil and water resources. Changes in the selected crops and sowing patterns were also proposed, accompanied by the promotion of adapted livestock practices. Limitations for the methods' application were identified on the basis of regional social and economic conditions.
Similar climatic variations were apparent in eastern European countries, which though shared comparable sectoral limitations and vulnerabilities. Adaptation proposals for this group were additionally affected, in comparison to other areas, by the transition of the countries to the free market economy, which had significant socioeconomic impacts and influenced agriculture management. Solutions were therefore identified taking into account the abovementioned specificities and the most feasible ones were highlighted. Moreover, the proposals' limitations were summarised to facilitate selection between alternatives.
The acquired knowledge for management practices at local, regional and national levels was disseminated via the preparation and publication of extensive documentation. The project deliverables also included detailed presentation of the risks and vulnerabilities which were determined as part of ADAGIO for all the examined countries and specific case studies.
ADAGIO applied a bottom-up approach to integrate decision makers' feedback on local levels via the use of interviews and questionnaires. Moreover, previous research efforts were reviewed and evaluated. Information was transferred from farm and regional to national and international levels. The potential risks and the alternative adaptation measures were therefore firstly identified and evaluated within a regional context.
The project highlighted that farmers resisted introducing simple adaptation measures which were recommended by scientists, since they were usually not aware of the already identified climatic change impacts. In addition, significant differences in agricultural production conditions were revealed, resulting in the development of rules for an effective promotion of strategies based on regionalisation of the implemented policies. Scenarios were also elaborated to identify the principal vulnerabilities and possible climatic impacts in the sector, so as to provide adjustment solutions for the present as well as for the following decades.
Different countries were grouped in three categories, namely the central European countries, the eastern European participants and the members from the Mediterranean. Various tools were subsequently utilised by local ADAGIO members to perform pilot assessments of both regional and international validity.
The optimisation of sowing and transplanting time along with the selection of varieties and species among existing alternatives were pinpointed as the most feasible and fast options in the Mediterranean. In addition, the benefits of proper irrigation management and implementation of innovative practices to increase water efficiency were noted and midterm solutions were identified.
The central European region consisted of various climatic types and included numerous farm structures and socioeconomic conditions. Despite this heterogeneity, the anticipated effects of drought were common in all arable lands and resulted in recommendations regarding the efficient use of agricultural, soil and water resources. Changes in the selected crops and sowing patterns were also proposed, accompanied by the promotion of adapted livestock practices. Limitations for the methods' application were identified on the basis of regional social and economic conditions.
Similar climatic variations were apparent in eastern European countries, which though shared comparable sectoral limitations and vulnerabilities. Adaptation proposals for this group were additionally affected, in comparison to other areas, by the transition of the countries to the free market economy, which had significant socioeconomic impacts and influenced agriculture management. Solutions were therefore identified taking into account the abovementioned specificities and the most feasible ones were highlighted. Moreover, the proposals' limitations were summarised to facilitate selection between alternatives.
The acquired knowledge for management practices at local, regional and national levels was disseminated via the preparation and publication of extensive documentation. The project deliverables also included detailed presentation of the risks and vulnerabilities which were determined as part of ADAGIO for all the examined countries and specific case studies.
