How can farmers adapt to climate change?

The Climate Stress Test is a method by which researchers can identify the risks of climate change for a specific farm. ‘The aim is to make farmers more aware of the problem and to give them advice on what they can do’, says Daan Verstand at Wageningen University & Research, who deals with the effects of climate change on agriculture in the Netherlands.

Two climate scenarios

In the test, the Netherlands is divided into five regions. For example, temperature inland is often higher and extreme precipitation occurs more often along the coast. The test examines two of the four climate scenarios developed by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) for 2050: 1) the most extreme and 2) the most moderate. ‘The consequences for farmers are therefore dependent on how extreme climate is going to change’, Verstand explains. The test focuses on recognisable cropping schemesfor those five regions where many crops are cultivated, such as potatoes, sugar beet, root vegetables, cereals and onions, and shows how vulnerable they are to extreme weather conditions. Onions and potatoes, for example, are vulnerable to droughts; cereals much less. In the years ahead, researchers will also add other crops to the test, such as kidney beans, broad beans and soy.

Other crops

At present the test is still a tool that researchers execute themselves, but they are also working on developing an app that farmers can use for themselves. Aside from arable farmers, insurers were also involved in the research. ‘It is also worthwhile for them to know how farms can reduce their vulnerability, because if they increasingly have to compensate for extreme weather damages, the premiums will rise tremendously.’

Using water more economically

‘The test not only involves the risks, but also offers tips to arable farmers on how to adapt to climate change’, Verstand emphasizes. For example, there are ways to use water more economically during dry spells and to improve soil quality so that farmers can better deal with extreme weather conditions. Farmers can adapt their management to the changing climate, by for example improve the water holding capacity of the soil and reduce soil compaction (the soil is compressed by heavy machinery which prevents the roots from reaching deeper water). Farmers also share their experiences and can learn from each other. ‘If these adaptations don't work, the farmers could consider switching to crops that are better suited to extreme weather conditions.’

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This article was previously published in the TO2-magazine, published in November 2022.