Eighty percent of farms in Austria expect global warming to have an impact on their operations. For 40 percent, these impacts could even threaten their very existence. These are the findings of a recent study from the COMMUNITYadapt research project at BOKU Vienna, as reported by ORF Science.
But what does this mean specifically for agriculture? The researchers believe that it is not just individual crops or particularly arid regions that will have to adapt. Agriculture as a whole will change.
What will grow where in the future?
Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are altering growing conditions. Crops that thrive in a region today may face greater drought stress there in the future. At the same time, new growing areas may open up for other crops.
BOKU researchers therefore expect changes in virtually all field crops. The report cites soybeans as an example, the cultivation of which has already expanded significantly in Austria. Drought-tolerant crops such as millet could also gain in importance in the future.
It’s not just about choosing the right crop. The choice of variety, sowing time, soil management, and water availability are also becoming increasingly important. Farms must therefore increasingly adapt to conditions that can vary from region to region.
Water remains a key factor
Regardless of which crops are grown in the future, the key is to keep available water accessible to plants for as long as possible.
Water-retaining granules such as Polysorb and POLYGRAIN can be one component of this system: They store rainwater and irrigation water in the root zone and release it as needed.
The latest research findings thus show one thing above all: Climate adaptation in agriculture will not consist of a single measure. It begins with the choice of crop and extends to the management of soil and water.
Source: ORF Science, “Drought: A Transformation of the Food System Is Needed”
