Agriculture is confronting a host of difficulties resulting from shifting climate conditions, including frequent extreme weather events, unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and the increasing prevalence of destructive storms, making it the most vulnerable sector to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture is the solution, promoting green and climate-resilient practices.
This article delves into the intricate relationship between climate change, agriculture, and food security. It sheds light on the significance of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices while emphasizing the pivotal role of Earth observation and geospatial technologies in this pursuit. It also addresses the challenges associated with integrating these technologies and the need for education, data security, and ensuring accessibility to all.
Climate change poses a grave threat to our food security, as it disrupts the delicate balance of nature that sustains agriculture. Agriculture occupies 40% of Earth’s land and utilizes 70% of its freshwater resources while contributing to 24% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Not only does agriculture play a role in climate change, but its direct dependence on natural resources makes it the most vulnerable sector to climate impacts.
Agriculture faces a multitude of challenges from a changing climate, marked by extreme weather events, erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and destructive storms that have become the new normal. This is the story of agriculture in crisis, as it struggles to adapt to a new and hostile climate.
The relationship between climate change, the agri-food sector and conservation is symbiotic — food systems depend on stable weather patterns, predictable climates, fertile soil, and clean water. In return, these very food systems contribute to climate change and environmental degradation.
According to a study led by Cornell University, global farming productivity today stands at 21% lower than its potential due to climate change, equivalent to losing seven years of productivity gains since the 1960s. New findings indicate that as much as 30% of the projected growth in European crop yields has been nullified due to unfavourable weather conditions.
However, of even greater concern is the fact that the most significant alterations in crop performance are occurring in regions, notably within sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, which is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change on food availability and its economic accessibility, the World Economic Forum noted.
These alarming facts underscore the urgency of addressing the intricate relationship between climate change, food security, and agricultural methods.
Climate-smart agriculture emerges as the viable solution that can address the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change by transforming agri-food systems towards green and climate-resilient practices.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, climate-smart agriculture has three main objectives:
Climate-smart agriculture is based on the context-specific needs and conditions of different regions, crops, and livestock. It involves various practices and technologies, such as crop rotation, integrated pest management, irrigation efficiency, soil conservation, and genetic improvement. It also requires supportive policies, institutions, funding, and tools to enable its implementation and scaling up.
Climate-smart agriculture practices differ significantly from one region to another, reflecting the specific conditions, limitations, susceptibilities, and unique characteristics of agricultural sectors worldwide. For instance, Africa places a primary emphasis on land restoration strategies, whereas in Asia, the key lies in diversifying agricultural approaches.
Climate-smart agriculture is more than an evolution of traditional farming practices; it represents a revolutionary shift in mindset that focuses on concurrently pursuing interconnected goals — better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind, thus supporting internationally agreed goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
“Making climate-smart agriculture operational will rely on our ability to measure production, resilience, and emissions in a way that informs decision-makers about the policies, technologies, and practices that most effectively promote each,” notes this report from World Bank Climate-Smart Agriculture Indicators.
When we talk about measuring and monitoring, Earth observation and geospatial technologies will play a pivotal role in understanding the intricacies of climate change and its impact on agriculture. These technologies allow us to collect, monitor, and analyze vital data from satellites, drones, sensors, and various Earth-observing instruments. By observing Earth’s systems from space and on the ground, we can gain insights into climate patterns, land use, vegetation health, soil moisture, and other critical variables. Naturally, earth observation data is a crucial tool in climate-smart agriculture.
Large-scale crop monitoring and Earth observation offer substantial potential for enhancing food security planning and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals. Unfortunately, many developing countries lack access to these tools due to technology and cost constraints.
For instance, the CropWatch Program, under the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, empowers 14 developing countries with Earth observation tools for crop monitoring. CropWatch uses satellite data to monitor crop conditions and integrates this with other climate-related data on drought, pests and disease for better farm management.
Crop Diversification: The case for crop diversification is compelling. While monoculture farming is efficient in the short term, it is highly susceptible to pests, diseases, and climatic variations. A diverse array of crops offers protection against crop failures, ensures more stable incomes for farmers, and fosters biodiversity. Crop diversification not only helps manage risks but also enhances the overall sustainability of the agricultural system.
In sub-Saharan Africa, crop diversification plays a significant role in climate change adaptation strategies for many countries. Research by FAO reveals that opting for a highly volatile or low-yielding cropping system heightens the vulnerability of smallholder farmers and exposes them to food insecurity. By cultivating a variety of crops, farmers can reduce the need for excessive chemical inputs, promote healthier soils, and decrease the impact of pests and diseases. The results underscore the importance of policies that promote the development of private agricultural input and output markets.
Efficient Water Management: Water is a precious resource, and responsible management is integral to the success of climate-smart agriculture. As water resources become scarcer and more unpredictable, maximizing water usage becomes paramount. Climate-smart agriculture embraces practices such as rainwater harvesting and precise irrigation to make every drop count.
Advanced irrigation techniques, including drip irrigation and controlled-release systems, conserve water and ensure precise delivery to crop roots, minimizing wastage. Drip irrigation is an example where Earth observation plays a significant role. Israel, a global leader in drip irrigation, uses satellite data and ground observations to optimize water use and enhance crop health.
Similarly, water stress is a key concern in Turkey, where agriculture uses 74% of the country’s water resources. The World Bank is supporting the Turkish government’s water management strategies through innovative, climate-smart agriculture technologies and integrated basin management practices. The European Space Agency provides essential remote sensing services to gather data on agriculture, forestry, urban areas, erosion, and irrigation systems, aiding in addressing these challenges.
Soil Conservation: Soil conservation practices, including no-till farming and cover cropping, are vital for preserving the foundation of our food production. No-till farming reduces erosion, enhances soil health, and sequesters carbon. Cover cropping, planting crops like clover or rye during the off-season, protects the soil from erosion, enhances its structure, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from soil degradation.
For instance, decades of zero-till/reduced-till practices by the farmers in the Canadian prairies have transformed the farmlands in the region into net carbon sinks. Farmlands in Canada have been a net sink for CO2 starting in about 1990 due to the adoption of soil conservation practices. However, according to Agriculture Canada data, since 2000 agricultural lands have been a net sink for CO2 when land use change is taken into account.
Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a sustainable farming method that integrates trees and shrubs with crops and livestock, providing multiple benefits for the environment and the people. It can increase productivity and income, adapt and build resilience to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration, improve soil and water quality and quantity, and conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Agroforestry has a long history and a wide diversity of types and practices, depending on the context and needs of the farmers and the land.
The Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS) in Honduras is a great example that combines trees and shrubs with crops, such as maize, beans, and sorghum, on hillsides that were previously degraded by slash-and-burn agriculture. The system involves cutting and pruning the existing vegetation, leaving the biomass on the soil surface as mulch, and planting crops in the spaces between the trees and shrubs. The system provides multiple benefits including increased crop yields and improved soil fertility, moisture, and organic matter.
The QSMAS has been practised by more than 6,000 farmers in the Lempira Department of Honduras since the 1990s, covering an area of about 10,000 hectares, and has been replicated and adapted in other countries, such as Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Adaptive Breeding: Adaptive breeding focuses on developing resilient crop varieties employing advanced genetic techniques like genome editing, conventional breeding, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection. These approaches introduce traits vital for crop adaptation, boosting resilience against climate change, pests, diseases, and soil degradation.
One notable success story is the development of more than 200 drought-tolerant maize varieties in Africa, offering an average yield advantage of 20-30% over widely grown commercial hybrids. These advancements have benefitted millions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Precision Farming: Precision farming, a part of climate-smart agriculture, deploys advanced technology and data for efficient crop management and eco-friendly practices. It optimizes input use, adapts to varying conditions, and promotes productivity, resilience, and mitigation. Earth observation, geospatial technologies, and precision agriculture intersect to provide real-time data on critical factors such as crop development, soil health, pest and disease risks, and yield projections. This data equips farmers to make informed decisions, bolstering their resilience in the face of climate uncertainties.
A study funded by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in the US reveals that farmers embracing precision agriculture technologies realized significant environmental benefits.
These included a 4% crop production increase, 7% greater fertilizer placement efficiency, 9% reduced herbicide and pesticide use, 6% lower fossil fuel consumption, and a 4% reduction in water usage.
From an environmental perspective, these improvements translated to the avoidance of 2 million acres of cropland expansion, a decrease of 30 million pounds of herbicides, the conservation of 100 million gallons of fossil fuel, and the preservation of enough water to fill 750,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Earth observation technologies, including satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors, are instrumental in supporting climate-smart agriculture practices. These technologies provide invaluable data for monitoring and managing various aspects of agricultural systems.
For instance, satellites capture information about weather patterns, soil moisture levels, and vegetation health, which is crucial for optimizing irrigation and identifying areas prone to drought or pests. Earth observation through satellites also plays a pivotal role in tracking the extent of deforestation, helping protect agroforestry practices and maintaining carbon sinks.
Satellites are also crucial to weather forecasts, allowing farmers to make informed decisions about planting and harvesting, reducing potential crop losses. They also help farmers prepare for impending extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall or drought.
There has been a growth in weather forecasting satellites in the past few decades, which has led to enormous improvements in the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts and warnings, as well as the understanding of climate change and its impacts. According to the World Meteorological Organization, there are currently more than 100 operational meteorological satellites in orbit, belonging to different countries and organizations.
The latest generation of weather satellites offers new and enhanced capabilities, such as near-real-time lightning imaging, extended spectral range, and higher spatial and temporal resolution.
Drones, with their ability to capture high-resolution images and multispectral data, offer precision and accuracy in monitoring crops. They can identify areas of stress or disease within fields, allowing farmers to take targeted actions. Additionally, drones can be used to create digital elevation models, which help in designing efficient water management systems.
Precision agriculture relies on the integration of earth observation and geospatial data with real-time technology to boost sustainability by optimizing land, water, fuel, fertilizer, and pesticide usage. In essence, it empowers farmers to achieve more with less, reducing costs and environmental footprints.
Precision agriculture combines GPS/GNSS technology, IoT sensors and other data to tailor inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides to the unique requirements of different field areas. This not only improves crop well-being but also lessens the environmental impact of farming practices.
Several challenges must be addressed to ensure Earth observation technologies are effectively integrated into climate-smart agriculture.
One of the most pressing challenges is the need to enhance the accessibility and affordability of these technologies, particularly in regions with smallholder farmers in developing countries. Bridging the digital divide and expanding internet infrastructure to rural areas is essential to enable farmers to access and benefit from real-time data. These technologies mustn’t exacerbate existing inequalities but, instead, serve as tools for inclusivity.
Furthermore, the sheer volume of data generated by Earth observation and geospatial technologies can be overwhelming. Farmers and stakeholders need training and education to interpret and effectively utilize this wealth of information. Ensuring that users are not only capable of accessing data but also making informed decisions based on it is vital for the success of climate-smart agriculture.
This necessitates investments in capacity building and knowledge dissemination, not only among farmers but also among policymakers and agricultural extension services.
Privacy and data security also emerge as significant concerns in the era of data-driven agriculture. Farmers and organizations need assurances that sensitive agricultural data, which often contains valuable information about land, crops, and yields, remains protected from unauthorized access and misuse. Developing robust data governance frameworks and policies is crucial to creating a secure environment for data sharing and collaboration.
Another challenge lies in the customization of these technologies to suit the diverse needs and regional variations in agriculture. Climate-smart practices vary from one location to another, and solutions that work in one region may not be applicable in another. This demands adaptability and region-specific tailoring of technologies to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.
Additionally, the transition from traditional farming practices to technology-driven climate-smart agriculture can be met with resistance from some farmers, particularly those who are risk-averse or lack awareness about the environmental and economic benefits of these approaches.
Overcoming this resistance requires not only education but also the creation of incentives, policy support, and successful case studies that demonstrate the advantages of adopting such technologies.
In marginalized regions with limited connectivity, accessing real-time data, weather forecasts, and market information remains a significant obstacle. This underscores the importance of investing in essential infrastructure and connectivity.
Bridging this information divide is vital to ensure equitable access to information and resources, facilitating the broader adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices, particularly in underserved areas and the Global South.
It is essential to address these challenges proactively to unlock the full potential of Earth observation and geospatial technologies in building a resilient, environmentally conscious, and sustainable future for agriculture.
The future of agriculture depends on our ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace these transformative tools to address the complex challenges of the 21st century.
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