[Rachel Friedman]

How can we bridge the gap between scientific and technological advances for climate adaptation in food production systems, and the implementation and adoption by farmers on the ground?

As part of a cross-case study comparison carried out in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Climate Research Cohort, we are aiming to stimulate discussion on the challenges and opportunities for bridging such gaps in order to achieve transformative change and resilience in food production systems in the face of climate change. This case study of translating scientific climate forecasting into accessible and useful climate information services in food production systems in PNG provides a jumping off point. It was produced as part of an Australian Centre on International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project, and is available in full here: https://bit.ly/3zGOkHf.

Summary

– Climate change is expected to negatively impact island nations in the Pacific, which are particularly vulnerable to shifts in rainfall, sea level rise, and increased storm intensity.

– The people of Papua New Guinea, the largest of the South Pacific islands, rely mostly on small-scale agriculture and traditional practices for their livelihoods.

– In order to ensure their farming can respond to imminent climate threats, and build resilience over time, smallholders will need to be able to adapt their practices and food systems structures. This will require new knowledge, understanding, and approaches.

– Producing and sharing climate-relevant information so that it is accessible, useful, and equitable, remains a challenge.

– This case study highlights factors shown to be important in designing climate information services, specifically a seasonal farm advisory, while highlighting the persistent barriers such efforts face.

Discussion Questions

1. In your experience, what considerations are critical for climate information services to be tailored or co-designed to ensure they are accessible and of use to all stakeholders?

2. If the starting point is climate science and modelling, where do cultural and traditional aspects of knowledge integrate into climate information services?

3. What modifications to ‘process’ are needed to achieve successful co-design with communities, especially during pandemic restrictions and risks?

4. How can the dialogue between farmer engagement activities (e.g. field days) and seasonal climate forecasts be improved? And incorporated into a Seasonal Farm Advisory?

5. More generally, what three recommendations would you give for translating scientific/technical advances into adoption and adaptation on farms?

• This discussion was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by  Rachel Friedman.