Gaël BOHNERT, CRESAT, Université de Haute Alsace, France
Brice MARTIN, CRESAT, Université de Haute Alsace, France
Climate change is posing numerous threats on agriculture: very dry and hot summer periods (Fuhrer et Jasper 2009); too mild winters or too early springs suitable for the proliferation of some pests and for late frost (Soussana 2013; Thermes, Bertrand, et La Jeunesse 2020); erosion during heavy rains (Christen 2011); etc.
To reduce the potential impacts of these climate change related events, farming systems have to adapt. Moreover, agriculture also has an important role to play for mitigation. On the one hand, it is a large contributor to greenhouse gases emissions (Ciais, Jayet, et Soussana 2013). On the other hand, it can also store large quantities of carbon dioxide in soils and plants, and provide renewable energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels.
A profound transformation of farming systems is therefore needed, at different scales, from the farm to the territory and even global. Adoption of adaptation and mitigation measures at the farm and territorial scales therefore depends on many factors, both internal (geographical, technical and economical constraints, perceptions of climate change etc.) and external (political and geolegal context; social and cultural aspects linked to networks). To add to the complexity, these two objectives can also be contradictory, and some measures can lead to maladaptation and/or inequalities. The Rhine Ditch constitutes a particularly interesting case study: firstly because dynamic agricultural activities are very sensitive to climatic hazards, then because this transnational area is divided by state borders which weigh heterogeneously on the possibilities of adaptation and mitigation.
In this contribution, we base on semi-structured interviews with actors of the crops and wine sectors, to analyze the farmers’ choices concerning adaptation and mitigation measures in a double comparison beyond borders, between countries and between agricultural activities.
Mots clés : agriculture|Rhine Valley|climate change|adaptation |mitigation
A105230GB