Weathering the Storm: A Systematic Review of Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture. Methods, Metrics, and Impacts

Abstract

Much attention has been paid to the impact of the agriculture sector on the environment and its contribution to climate change. However, the sector is also vulnerable to the impacts of climate extremes. Thus, a growing number of studies have focused on adapting to these changes. We conducted a systematic literature review and assessment of the evidence gathered from 124 studies on the impacts of and adaptation to climate change in the agriculture sector in OECD member countries. Results highlight a significant knowledge gap in understanding the full economic effects of climate change as the impacts of climate change on input costs is not extensively studied in the way that impacts on farm output is. Additionally, there is a need to understand the indicators used to assess climate impacts in agriculture for easier comparison across studies. We recommend targeted research and funding to close this knowledge gap including conducting long term analyses to evaluate the costs and benefits of adaptation strategies as well as capacity building and knowledge exchange.