2024 Was the warmest year on record. Global average temperatures were 1.6 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This was reported by the climate change service of the EU Copernicus program, according to various media outlets. It is another piece of the puzzle that shows that we understand climate change well enough to act, because situations like this are exactly what the forecasts predict.
“Last year saw a further increase in the global average temperature, highlighting the need for adaptation and reduction of emissions.”
Action is urgently needed. With the vision of making food production more climate-friendly, the Organic Farm Knowledge platform is increasingly offering a wealth of practical knowledge on how agricultural practice can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, thanks to the OrganicClimateNET project.
No new insight: action is urgent
The higher global average temperature is a very abstract indicator. It primarily represents a larger amount of energy in the atmosphere. In concrete terms, this leads to more frequent and stronger storms, i.e. warmer air. Specifically, the air can thus absorb more moisture, which favors more frequent and stronger storms and heavy rainfall events. However, it also means more frequent heat waves and droughts, longer growing seasons, additional generations of harmful organisms and their further spread, to name just a few effects.
What does this mean for agriculture? Increasingly unpredictable growing conditions. We must act on the one hand, by emitting as few additional greenhouse gases as possible in order to contain climate change as much as possible. On the other hand, and most importantly and unavoidably in the short term, we must adapt to these conditions. Even under the strictest reduction scenarios, we can no longer prevent a further rise in temperature for a certain period.
Practical mitigation and adaptation measures for farmers
As climate change poses unprecedented challenges to farmers, foresters, land stewards, etc. the need for innovative, sustainable practices has never been more critical. We must learn from one another and exchange knowledge around practical measures that allow farmers and land stewards to, not only, mitigate emissions but adapt and become more resilient to the challenges that are to come. Organic climate farming presents a viable solution that has been shown to not only curb climate change but also makes farms more resilient to its effects, ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.
The OrganicClimateNET project seeks to enable farmers to integrate and optimise organic climate farming, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration among them. OrganicClimateNET aims to create a robust framework to help and promote organic farming practices. The project hopes to accelerate the adoption of organic farming techniques across Europe, fostering a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
The project is filling the Organic Farm Knowledge toolbox with practical knowledge around organic climate farming, start browsing the Climate Change theme to learn more, or check out the recently published practice abstract defining Organic Climate Farming.
About FiBL CH
FiBL Switzerland is a renowned research institute based in Switzerland. It specializes in conducting scientific research, providing advisory services, and promoting organic agriculture. Learn more about the rest of the partners here!
