Climate Change and AgricultureClimate Change and Agriculture

Presented byMargaret Meadows

Oluseun IdowuJoe Takens

Geog. 5506: Global Climate ChangeInstructor: Prof. Jimmy Adegoke

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Background Problem Statement and Study ObjectivesAgriculture in KansasResearch Methodology Description of StakeholdersResults and DiscussionRecommendations and FeedbackConclusionReferences

Background Background We know that agriculture is totally dependent on

weather and climate.

We also know that agriculture is very crucial and important to social and economic development.

We know that sufficient agricultural production requires that impacts of climate change are well understood and integrated into future planning and practices (IPCC, 2007b).

It is also clear that global warming will continue to affect the agro-ecological suitability of crops and animals.

Background contd.Background contd.

We also know that increasing temperature will continue to reduce farming systems‘ diversity, and lower agricultural yields and change land use patterns.

The question is – is climate change unequivocal according to the IPCC or is it only unequivocal amongst the climate scientists?

Study ObjectivesStudy Objectives

• To examine and evaluate the impacts of climate change and the vulnerability of the agricultural sector, especially in and around Kansas City.

• To know from the stakeholders the extent of their knowledge about climate change and related issues, especially as it affects agriculture sector.

• To know the current source or sources of climate information accessible to the agricultural sector in the City.

Study Objectives contd.Study Objectives contd.

• To know the current climate change adaptability practices adopted in the agriculture sector.

• In order to form opinion about climate related needs of the agriculture sector in and around Kansas City

This is what we are dealing This is what we are dealing with …with …

Agriculture in Kansas CityAgriculture in Kansas City

• A growing demand for agricultural produce from local farms in the City.

• Kansas City is the 2nd largest agricultural producing city in the US.

• Urban farms are mostly community-based, small-scale, and entrepreneurial in nature.

• A large number of these farms are located in neighborhoods farther from the city core. E.g. Argentine, Shawnee and Raytown.

Source: USDA (2005)

Agriculture in Kansas City contd. Agriculture in Kansas City contd.

• Agricultural land ownerships are either private, leased, rented or government owned.

• Agricultural produce from the City includes cattle and calves, wheat, corn, sorghum, cotton, fruits and vegetables.

• Livestock farming is most essential in the City ($6.1 billion).

MethodologyMethodology

• A bottom-up approach was adopted.

• Individual background studies and stakeholders identified

• Emails, Phone calls, Survey Questions, Craigslist etc

• Conducted a focus group meeting – venue Plaza Library

• Discussion method used but guided with set of questions

• Collate findings and prepare a synthesis report

Results Results • Results provide useful information and insight into how local agricultural sector views and adapt to climate change.

• Stakeholders believe more in climate variability rather than in climate change as an important part of planning their farming activities.

• It was noted that the cooler spring season for this year (2009) resulted in about 15 day push back in the year’s growing season

• Most of the participants are dissatisfied with the climate change information available to them e.g. newspapers, websites, radio and television broadcasts.

•

Result contd. Result contd.

• Most of the current adaptation strategies are temporary. No lasting long-term adaptation strategies in place.

• There is a general consensus that agriculture is completely dependent on climate information and that climate variability largely impacts the sector as well as the global economies.

• But stakeholders are unsure how to effectively respond to the effects of climate change and variability and they are asking for more enlightenment.

• What they are asking is: how do they plan ahead if they don't know what to plan for?

Results contd. Results contd.

• Need for more locally directed climate research

• Need to effectively disseminate current research findings on climate change

• We noticed a wide gap between climate scientists and the users of climate information.

• Need to further strengthen the services of agricultural extension

Feedback / Suggestions Feedback / Suggestions

Most of the farmers are sensitive to seasonal time constrains – spring not the ideal time to organise a focus group meeting.

Recommended the use of existing farmers network (e.g. Listserves) to reach a wider range of farmers.

It is important to meet rural farmers where they are rather than expect them to travel into the city for a meeting.

It may also be necessary to hold several focus group meetings at different locations in order to reach a wider audience

ConclusionsConclusionsIt is surprising that even as the IPCC and some other notable climate scientists widely declared that climate change is now unequivocal, most of the stakeholders are yet skeptical.

Farmers and other stakeholders are expected to continue to explore ways to effectively adapt and cope with the attributes of the changing climate rather than continue to question its reality.

We hope that results from this study will help develop a reliable climate protection plan for Kansas City and its surrounding area, especially because of its unique bottom-up approach.

ReferencesReferencesAdegoke, J., Pielke, R. Sr., and Carleton, A. 2007. Observational and modeling studies of the impacts of agriculture-related land use change on planetary boundary layer-processes in the central U.S. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 142: 203-215.

Boden, T.A., Kaiser, D.P., Sepanski, R.J. and Stoss, F.W. (eds.). 1994. Trends '93: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. US Department of Energy, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Cline, W. 2007. Global Warming and Agriculture: Impact Estimates by Country. Washington, DC: Center for Global Development and Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Fajer, E.D. and Bazzaz, F.A. 1992. Is carbon dioxide a 'good' greenhouse gas? Effects of increasing carbon dioxide on ecological systems. Global Environmental Change: Human and Policy Dimensions 2: 301-310.

Fischer, G., M. Shah, F. N. Tubiello, and H. van Velthuizen. 2005. Socio-economic and Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture: an Integrated Assessment, 1990–2080. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 360: 2067–2083.

Goddard, L., Masonb, S. J., Zebiaka, S. E., Ropelewskia, C. F., Bashera, R. and Canec, M.A. 2001. Current Approaches To Seasonal-To-Internannual Climate Predictions. Int. J. Climatol. 21: 1111-1152.Hofstrand, Don. 2007. “Ag Decision Maker: A Business Newsletter for Agriculture.” Iowa State University Extension.

IPCC. 2007b. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Work Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

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