Climate-smart agriculture global research agenda: science for action

Authors: Steenwerth, Kerri; HODSON, A.K. - University Of California; BLOOM, A.J. - University Of California; CARTER, M.R. - University Of California; CATTANEO, A. - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO); CHARTRES, C. - International Water Management Institute; Hatfield, Jerry; HENRY, K. - International Center Cooperative Agricultural Research; Horwath, William; JENKINS, B.M. - University Of California; LEEMANS, R. - Wageningen University; LUBELL, M.N. - University Of California; MSANGI, S. - International Food Policy Researc Institute (IFPRI); PRABHU, R. - International Centre For Research In Agroforestry (ICRAF); REYNOLDS, M.P. - International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); SANDOVAL SOLIS, S. - University Of California; SISCHO, W.M. - Washington State University; SPRINGBORN, M. - University Of California; TITTONELL, P. - University Of Wageningen; WOLLENBERG, E. - University Of Vermont; HOPMANS, J.W. - University Of California; KEBREAB, E. - University Of California; LIPPER, L. - Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations (FAO); VERMEULEN, S.J. - University Of Copenhagen; WHEELER, S.M. - University Of California; JARVIS, L.S. - University Of California; JACKSON, L.E. - University Of California

Submitted to: Agriculture & Food Security
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2014
Publication Date: 8/26/2014
Publication URL: http://www.agricultureandfoodsecurity.com/content/3/1/11
Citation: Steenwerth, K.L., Hodson, A., Bloom, A., Carter, M., Cattaneo, A., Chartres, C., Hatfield, J.L., Henry, K., Horwath, W.R., Jenkins, B., Leemans, R., Lubell, M., Msangi, S., Prabhu, R., Reynolds, M., Sandoval Solis, S., Sischo, W., Springborn, M., Tittonell, P., Wollenberg, E., Hopmans, J., Kebreab, E., Lipper, L., Vermeulen, S., Wheeler, S., Jarvis, L., Jackson, L. 2014. Climate-smart agriculture global research agenda: science for action. Agriculture & Food Security. 3:11.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) addresses the challenge of meeting the growing demand for food, fiber, or fuel, caused by population growth, changes in diet related to increases in per capita income, and the need for alternative energy sources, despite the changing climate and fewer opportunities for agricultural expansion on additional lands. CSA focuses on: meeting this challenge; contributing to economic development, poverty reduction, and food security; maintaining and enhancing the productivity and resilience of natural/agricultural ecosystem functions, thus building natural capital; and reducing the tradeoffs involved in meeting these goals. Current gaps in knowledge, existing and promising work within CSA, and agendas for interdisciplinary research and science-based actions identified at the 2013 Global Science Conference on CSA are presented within three themes: 1) farm and food systems; 2) landscape and regional issues; and 3) institutional and policy aspects. The first two themes examine: crop physiology and genetics, mitigation and adaptation for livestock and agriculture, barriers to adoption of CSA practices, climate risk management, and energy and biofuels (Theme 1); and modeling adaptation and uncertainty, achieving multifunctionality, food and fishery systems, forest biodiversity and ecosystem services, rural migration from climate change, and metrics (Theme 2). In addition to enumerated research needed within each Theme, other imperatives include: 1) models that go beyond impacts to include adaptation and transformation at either farm or landscape levels; 2) capacity approaches to examine how multifunctional solutions are possible with respect to agronomic, ecological, and socio-economic aspects; 3) direct evidence and metrics for situations, options, and scenarios that increase human behaviors that create resilience and build natural capital; 4) adoption of new farming technology and practices by examining how risks assumed during the conversion period can present formidable barriers to farmers; and 5) understanding of how climate affects dynamics of the rural labor force, land tenure and cultural integrity, and thus stability of food production. Action- and service-oriented research can show how public-private partnerships may be most successful in developing technologies, policies, and approaches that lead to sustainable food production and consumption patterns in a changing climate.