Adaptation and development pathways for different types of farmers. Issue 104 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stringer, L.C.; Fraser, E.D.G.; Harris, D.; Lyon, C.; Pereira, L.; Ward, C.F.M.; Simelton, E.
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 104(2020)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 189
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Food systems -- Sustainability -- Agriculture -- Planetary boundaries -- Livelihoods -- Climate change -- Inequality -- Transformation -- Diets -- Governance -- Technology -- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) -- Paris Agreement -- Smallholders -- Commercial farmers; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.10.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Highlights: 'Business as usual' agriculture is not an option for the future. Different types of farmers need different adaptation and development options. Many current farmers are likely to exit agriculture. Disruptors can change trajectories and accelerate transformation. Good governance is critical to support low-carbon food security. Abstract: One of the greatest challenges humanity faces is feeding the world's human population in a sustainable, nutritious, equitable and ethical way under a changing climate. Urgent transformations are needed that allow farmers to adapt and develop while also being climate resilient and contributing minimal emissions. This paper identifies several illustrative adaptation and development pathways, recognising the variety of starting points of different types of farmers and the ways their activities intersect with global trends, such as population growth, climate change, rapid urbanisation dietary changes, competing land uses and the emergence of new technologies. The feasibility of some pathways depends on factors such as farm size and land consolidation. For other pathways, particular infrastructure, technology, access to credit and market access or collective action are required. The most viable pathway for some farmers may be to exit agriculture altogether, which itself requires careful management and planning. While technology offers hope and opportunity, as a disruptor, it also risks maladaptations and can create tradeoffs and exacerbate inequalities, especially in the context of an uncertain future. For both the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Paris Agreement to be achieved, a mix of levers that combine policy, technology, education and awareness-raising, dietary shifts and financial/economic mechanisms is required, attending to multiple time dimensions, to assist farmers along different pathways. Vulnerable groups such as women and the youth must not be left behind. Overall, strong good governance is needed at multiple levels, combining top-down and bottom-up processes.