Australian Agriculture in a Climate of Change

Mark Howden, Steven Crimp, Rohan Nelson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Australian agricultural systems are likely to be significantly affected by current and future climate changes. These changes will occur in the context of a variety of other issues, requiring adaptive management and policy responses that reduce vulnerabilities to a range of factors. We demonstrate how three such factors (climate change, population growth and consumption patterns) could interact to affect wheat exports both negatively and significantly, and how adaptation could reduce this risk. We discuss how there are many farm-level adaptations to existing systems that could bring substantial benefit in the early stages of climate change. However, these benefits tend to plateau with larger degrees of climate change (approximately above 2oC), requiring more transformational changes to agriculture. These transformations may include change in land use, change in location of agricultural activities or increased diversification of income streams. The role of science in adapting Australian agriculture to climate change is most likely to be enhanced by effective partnerships and engagement processes with farmer groups and other on-ground decision makers who can identify barriers to adoption and what may be maladaptive practices. There is also a strong case for increasing engagement with industry and government policy groups to integrate climate change adaptation with other concerns including mitigation, and also in the exploration of alternative governance arrangements.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationManaging Climate Change
Subtitle of host publicationPapers from the Greenhouse 2009 Conference
EditorsImogen Jubb, Paul Holper, Wenju Cai
Place of PublicationAustralia
PublisherCSIRO Publishing
Chapter9
Pages101-112
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-643-10017-6, 978-0-643-10199-9
ISBN (Print)9780643098312, 0643098313
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
EventGreenhouse 2009: Climate Change and Resources - Perth, Australia
Duration: 23 Mar 200926 Mar 2009

Conference

ConferenceGreenhouse 2009
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityPerth
Period23/03/0926/03/09

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