Climate Changes in the Mediterranean Region: Physical Aspects and Effects on Agriculture
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particularly herbicides and pesticides.
If climate change is taken into account on a global basis, the role of some
Mediterranean countries as providers of grains for export may be affected.
Because of the growing interdependence of the world food system, the impact of
climate change on agriculture in each country depends more and more on what
happens elsewhere. International trade policy issues, especially the movement to
lower agricultural trade barriers, will be crucial in climate change response
strategies.
National farm policy can be a critical determinant in the adaptation of the
farming sector to changing conditions. In the Mediterranean countries farm subsidies
may either help or hinder necessary adaptation to the eventuality of a changing
climate. An important policy consideration is the assessment of risk due to weather
anomalies. If drought frequency increase, the need for emergency allocations will
also increase. Anticipating the probability and the potential magnitude of such
anomalies can help make timely adjustments that may reduce social costs.
5 Need for Changes in Policy
Mediterranean policy-makers recognize the urgent need for investment in new
technologies, infrastructure, and knowledge related to agriculture in response to
major problems in the region:
Increasing domestic demand, urbanization, high unemployment level, and low
rent of the traditional rural populationLoss of comparative advantage vis-a-vis
international growers Water resources competition and land deterioration (erosion,
desertification, salinization, pollution, and deforestation)Rising costs due to
environmental protection policiesAs regional planners are meeting these challenges
they will benefit from an improved understanding of the climate-agricultureeconomics interactions in the region.
The three regional application studies will look at the benefits of climate
information and projections for designing adaptation options for different farm types
and cropping systems. The work focuses on designing agricultural land and water
management options that will improve food production and efficiency of irrigation
water use. The regional studies focus on optimising traditional production systems
since they are the current basis of agricultural production in the Mediterranean, but
the research also has benefits for large-scale commercial systems.
6 A Survey of Previous Studies
Several hundred impact studies have now been completed of impacts of climate
change on agriculture, and these can provide an indication both of the types and
magnitude of climate change likely to be most important. A survey of such studies
can provide an approximate and initial indication of the types of impact to expect
109
particularly herbicides and pesticides.
If climate change is taken into account on a global basis, the role of some
Mediterranean countries as providers of grains for export may be affected.
Because of the growing interdependence of the world food system, the impact of
climate change on agriculture in each country depends more and more on what
happens elsewhere. International trade policy issues, especially the movement to
lower agricultural trade barriers, will be crucial in climate change response
strategies.
National farm policy can be a critical determinant in the adaptation of the
farming sector to changing conditions. In the Mediterranean countries farm subsidies
may either help or hinder necessary adaptation to the eventuality of a changing
climate. An important policy consideration is the assessment of risk due to weather
anomalies. If drought frequency increase, the need for emergency allocations will
also increase. Anticipating the probability and the potential magnitude of such
anomalies can help make timely adjustments that may reduce social costs.
5 Need for Changes in Policy
Mediterranean policy-makers recognize the urgent need for investment in new
technologies, infrastructure, and knowledge related to agriculture in response to
major problems in the region:
Increasing domestic demand, urbanization, high unemployment level, and low
rent of the traditional rural populationLoss of comparative advantage vis-a-vis
international growers Water resources competition and land deterioration (erosion,
desertification, salinization, pollution, and deforestation)Rising costs due to
environmental protection policiesAs regional planners are meeting these challenges
they will benefit from an improved understanding of the climate-agricultureeconomics interactions in the region.
The three regional application studies will look at the benefits of climate
information and projections for designing adaptation options for different farm types
and cropping systems. The work focuses on designing agricultural land and water
management options that will improve food production and efficiency of irrigation
water use. The regional studies focus on optimising traditional production systems
since they are the current basis of agricultural production in the Mediterranean, but
the research also has benefits for large-scale commercial systems.
6 A Survey of Previous Studies
Several hundred impact studies have now been completed of impacts of climate
change on agriculture, and these can provide an indication both of the types and
magnitude of climate change likely to be most important. A survey of such studies
can provide an approximate and initial indication of the types of impact to expect