Abstract
In order to meet future food demand while sustainably managing available land and water resources, irrigated agriculture in semi-arid regions needs to adapt as a response to climate and socio-economic change. In this study, we focus on the Mediterranean region, a dynamic region, which is highly dependent on irrigated agriculture. We provide insight on adaptation strategies implemented on farm level, by doing a systematic review of studies in the region. Our analysis reports 286 implemented adaptations, on 124 different locations throughout the Mediterranean. Additionally, 142 drivers and 324 effects of adaptations were noted. We identified 31 adaptation strategies in 5 main categories: (1) water management, (2) sustainable resource management, (3) technological developments, (4) farm production practices, and (5) farm management. Strategies in the categories water management and farm production practices are most often implemented by farmers in the region. The main driver in the area is water scarcity and adaptations often affected water use and resources in addition to farm practices. Subsequently, we studied the spatial context of adaptations by analyzing the location factors of the five main strategies, using Geographic Information Systems and maximum entropy modeling. Our results show that farmers are more likely to adapt in less rural areas with lower poverty values and better market access, and in areas with higher temperatures and less rainfall. This demonstrates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors determine the context in which adaptations are implemented and that considerable spatial variability in the area exists.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1401-1416 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Regional Environmental Change |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 24 Apr 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2019 |
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Keywords
- Adaptation
- irrigation
- land management
- water management
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Adaptations in irrigated agriculture in the Mediterranean region : an overview and spatial analysis of implemented strategies. / Harmanny, Kina Stientje; Malek, Ziga.
In: Regional Environmental Change, Vol. 19, No. 5, 01.06.2019, p. 1401-1416.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Adaptations in irrigated agriculture in the Mediterranean region
T2 - an overview and spatial analysis of implemented strategies
AU - Harmanny, Kina Stientje
AU - Malek, Ziga
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - In order to meet future food demand while sustainably managing available land and water resources, irrigated agriculture in semi-arid regions needs to adapt as a response to climate and socio-economic change. In this study, we focus on the Mediterranean region, a dynamic region, which is highly dependent on irrigated agriculture. We provide insight on adaptation strategies implemented on farm level, by doing a systematic review of studies in the region. Our analysis reports 286 implemented adaptations, on 124 different locations throughout the Mediterranean. Additionally, 142 drivers and 324 effects of adaptations were noted. We identified 31 adaptation strategies in 5 main categories: (1) water management, (2) sustainable resource management, (3) technological developments, (4) farm production practices, and (5) farm management. Strategies in the categories water management and farm production practices are most often implemented by farmers in the region. The main driver in the area is water scarcity and adaptations often affected water use and resources in addition to farm practices. Subsequently, we studied the spatial context of adaptations by analyzing the location factors of the five main strategies, using Geographic Information Systems and maximum entropy modeling. Our results show that farmers are more likely to adapt in less rural areas with lower poverty values and better market access, and in areas with higher temperatures and less rainfall. This demonstrates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors determine the context in which adaptations are implemented and that considerable spatial variability in the area exists.
AB - In order to meet future food demand while sustainably managing available land and water resources, irrigated agriculture in semi-arid regions needs to adapt as a response to climate and socio-economic change. In this study, we focus on the Mediterranean region, a dynamic region, which is highly dependent on irrigated agriculture. We provide insight on adaptation strategies implemented on farm level, by doing a systematic review of studies in the region. Our analysis reports 286 implemented adaptations, on 124 different locations throughout the Mediterranean. Additionally, 142 drivers and 324 effects of adaptations were noted. We identified 31 adaptation strategies in 5 main categories: (1) water management, (2) sustainable resource management, (3) technological developments, (4) farm production practices, and (5) farm management. Strategies in the categories water management and farm production practices are most often implemented by farmers in the region. The main driver in the area is water scarcity and adaptations often affected water use and resources in addition to farm practices. Subsequently, we studied the spatial context of adaptations by analyzing the location factors of the five main strategies, using Geographic Information Systems and maximum entropy modeling. Our results show that farmers are more likely to adapt in less rural areas with lower poverty values and better market access, and in areas with higher temperatures and less rainfall. This demonstrates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors determine the context in which adaptations are implemented and that considerable spatial variability in the area exists.
KW - Adaptation
KW - irrigation
KW - land management
KW - water management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064828943&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85064828943&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-019-01494-8
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-019-01494-8
M3 - Review article
VL - 19
SP - 1401
EP - 1416
JO - Regional Environmental Change
JF - Regional Environmental Change
SN - 1436-3798
IS - 5
ER -