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An Integrated Adaptation and Mitigation Framework for Developing Agricultural Research: Synergies and Trade-Offs.

Published by:
Publication date
21/03/2011
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Articles & Journals
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Climate / Weather / Environment
Nutrition / Food Systems
Type of Risk:
Weather & Climate related
Commodity:
Crops
Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0014479711000123
Author
Bonilla, O.; Challinor, A.; Cook, S.; Hansen, J.; Jarvis, A; Lau, C.; Wollenberg, E.

Global food security is under threat by climate change, and the impacts fall disproportionately on resource-poor small producers. With the goal of making agricultural and food systems more climate-resilient, this paper presents an adaptation and mitigation framework. A road map for further agricultural research is proposed, based on the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. We propose a holistic, integrated approach that takes into account trade-offs and feedbacks between interventions. We divide the agenda into four research areas, three tackling risk management, accelerated adaptation and emissions mitigation, and the fourth facilitating adoption of research outputs. After reviewing specific technical, agronomic and policy options for reducing climate change vulnerability, we acknowledge that science and good-faith recommendations do not necessarily translate into effective and timely actions. We therefore outline impediments to behavioural change and propose that future research overcomes these obstacles by linking the right institutions, instruments and scientific outputs. Food security research must go beyond its focus on production to also examine food access and utilization issues. Finally, we conclude that urgent action is needed despite the uncertainties, trade-offs and challenges.