Farmers against Climate Change

Climate change is impacting livelihoods & food security

Farmers are feeling the impact of climate change first-hand, seeing their crops drowned or scorched. At the same time, they are responsible for producing enough quality food to ensure food security and for implementing measures to help mitigate climate change.

If you’re a farmer and you’re feeling frustrated that you’re not able to do as much for the climate as you’d like to, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, 82% of British farmers feel guilt or frustration at the fact that they had to put climate action on hold due to rising costs. It is not surprising that farmers had to make the tough decision to delay environmentally-friendly projects, as globally, there has been an average income reduction for farmers by 15%.

This income reduction is due to the consequences of climate change, illustrating that farmers are stuck in a vicious circle of cause and effect. A circle that is impacting all of us as we depend on the industry to provide our food, and food security has become a stronger concern for many nations. In recent years, the output of key crops was reduced sharply in the EU due to widespread droughts and other adverse weather conditions. Given how interconnected our food supply systems are, this has the potential to become a crisis on an international scale.

A recent study showed that 70% of farmers across the globe have seen the impact of climate change on their crops. And despite the rising cost of living crisis, rising energy prices, and declining profits, farmers still want to take action to achieve net zero. Even more so than the general public as a recent poll has shown. Perhaps this is because farmers are on the frontlines when it comes to experiencing the impact of climate change, witnessing flooded fields from too much rain, scorched crops from too much heat, wildfires, and having to deal with increased insect pests.

For the agricultural sector, reaching net zero goes far beyond reducing emissions. Farmers are also being asked to improve soil health and fertility, accelerate carbon sequestration, improve water and air quality, and optimise biodiversity. Addressing these issues is important to slow down global warming, but any actions are costly to carry out.

But researchers have been working hard for years to develop solutions and innovative technologies from around the world show what might be possible in the future.

One such case study comes from Germany, where a farmer is successfully using solar panels on his fields. So far, this had been an either or scenario: either space had to be given up on fields for solar panels, or the space continued to be allocated for crops. In this case, however, the solar panels were installed among the crops and provide electricity for the whole farm. In the summer they generate surplus energy that can be sold back to the grid.

How well the method works depends on the weather and which crops are planted. If there is too much rain, the water is distributed unevenly, but planting crops with different water needs strategically might be a solution. During droughts, the plants benefit from the shade. In places where there is little rain, such as Arizona, the technology has proven successful protecting crops from the sun. The project is still being tested and refined but it is a good example of what might be possible in the future with technology.

There is also less complicated technology available for farmers who want to take action now. Given the lower output of crops it is now more important than ever to ensure that the harvest doesn’t spoil. And this is where farmers can turn their frustration about being unable to do more for the climate into action.

Cost-effective technologies are available for farmers to improve the efficiency of their refrigerated storage spaces. These will help decrease food waste and increase product quality while saving energy at the same time. The money that was saved on energy bills can be re-invested in other net zero technology or biodiversity projects that will help protect the climate and their farm in the long run.