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Einheimische und invasive Schadinsekten im Obstsbau: Zunehmende klimatische Eignung https://www.nccs.admin.ch/nccs/de/home.html

Exposure to a critical high temperature during the reproductive period can harm wheat development, entail yield losses and lead to yield instability. In the recent past, Russian wheat production suffered a few times from marked downturns caused by heat waves that eventually had repercussions on the global wheat market. In this study, we assess the frequency of heat stress days on Russian spring and winter wheat production using climate scenarios generated from five general circulation models and reflecting four emission scenarios. We find that the fraction of cultivated area characterized by a significant positive trend in risk increases sharply if global warming exceeds 1.5 °C targeted by the Paris Agreement. Currently particularly affected areas are the main cultivation regions in the southern Urals and southern Siberia (spring wheat) and southern European Russia (winter wheat). In scenarios not foreseeing mitigation, conditions comparable to those experienced in 2010, considered here as a critical year, could become rather common in the future. We estimated that the probability of incurring in a critical year within a 30-year time window could reach 40–60% (spring wheat), respectively 20-40% (winter wheat) during the second half of the century, over most of the Russian territory. Our analysis suggests that expansion of the cultivation area towards more northern latitudes is not sufficient to prevent risk associated with heat waves, suggesting the need for other measures of adaptation to sustain production and stabilize yield., Weather and Climate Extremes, 30, ISSN:2212-0947

Das Klima bestimmt entscheidend das Auftreten, die Ausbreitung und Entwicklung von Schadorganismen. Weil die Temperatur die Entwicklung von Insekten massgeblich steuert, ist durch die globale Er-wärmung mit einer steigenden Befallsgefährdung von Kulturpflanzen durch Schadinsekten zu rech-nen. Ausgehend von Klimaszenarien, Verbreitungsdaten und den bekannten Umweltansprüchen von Schadinsektenarten verwenden wir diverse Modellierungsansätze, um die Entwicklung und künftige Verbreitung ausgewählter, landwirtschaftlich relevanter Schadinsekten vorherzusagen. Die bearbeiteten Fallbeispiele umfassen sowohl in der Schweiz etablierte Arten, wie auch gebietsfremde Arten, welche erst kürzlich eingeschleppt wurden und solche, die in der Schweiz noch nicht vorkommen aber aufgrund ihrer klimatischen Anforderungen demnächst zu erwarten sind. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen die sich abzeichnende Erhöhung des Schädlingsdrucks. Sie zeigen aber auch neue Perspektiven für die landwirtschaftliche Produktion auf, besonders aufgrund der Verschiebungen in der Standorteignung der Kulturpflanzen, der verlängerten Vegetationszeit und der Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Pflanzenwachstum. Die erarbeiteten Szenarien bieten eine Entscheidungsgrundlage, die dazu dienen soll, die Risiken des Klimawandels rechtzeitig zu erkennen und zu steuern und andererseits die sich bietenden Chancen bestmöglich zu kapitalisieren. Die Umsetzung von verbesserten Früherkennungs- und Überwachungsmethoden, die Steigerung der Resilienz von Anbausystemen gegenüber klimatischen Veränderungen und die Anpassung von agronomischen Massnahmen werden unumgänglich sein, um die von Schadorganismen verursachten Ertragsausfälle zu minimieren. Dazu ist die frühzeitige, sachliche Information und Sensibilisierung der beteiligten Akteure entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette zentral.

Large variability in N2O emissions from managed grasslands may occur because most emissions originate in surface litter or near-surface soil where variability in soil water content (θ) and temperature (Ts) is greatest. To determine whether temporal variability in θ and Ts of surface litter and near-surface soil could explain this in N2O emissions, a simulation experiment was conducted with ecosys, a comprehensive mathematical model of terrestrial ecosystems in which processes governing N2O emissions were represented at high temporal and spatial resolution. Model performance was verified by comparing N2O emissions, CO2 and energy exchange, and θ and Ts modelled by ecosys with those measured by automated chambers, eddy covariance (EC) and soil sensors on an hourly timescale during several emission events from 2004 to 2009 in an intensively managed pasture at Oensingen, Switzerland. Both modelled and measured events were induced by precipitation following harvesting and subsequent fertilizing or manuring. These events were brief (2–5 days) with maximum N2O effluxes that varied from Nm−2h−1 in early spring and autumn to > 3 mgNm−2h−1 in summer. Only very small emissions were modelled or measured outside these events. In the model, emissions were generated almost entirely in surface litter or near-surface (0–2 cm) soil, at rates driven by N availability with fertilization vs. N uptake with grassland regrowth and by O2 supply controlled by litter and soil wetting relative to O2 demand from microbial respiration. In the model, NOx availability relative to O2 limitation governed both the reduction of more oxidized electron acceptors to N2O and the reduction of N2O to N2, so that the magnitude of N2O emissions was not simply related to surface and near-surface θ and Ts. Modelled N2O emissions were found to be sensitive to defoliation intensity and timing which controlled plant N uptake and soil θ and Ts prior to and during emission events. Reducing leaf area index (LAI) remaining after defoliation to half that under current practice and delaying harvesting by 5 days raised modelled N2O emissions by as much as 80 % during subsequent events and by an average of 43 % annually. Modelled N2O emissions were also found to be sensitive to surface soil properties. Increasing near-surface bulk density by 10 % raised N2O emissions by as much as 100 % during emission events and by an average of 23 % annually. Relatively small spatial variation in management practices and soil surface properties could therefore cause the large spatial variation in N2O emissions commonly found in field studies. The global warming potential from annual N2O emissions in this intensively managed grassland largely offset those from net C uptake in both modelled and field experiments. However, model results indicated that this offset could be adversely affected by suboptimal land management and soil properties.

It is expected that the development of plants and insects will be accelerated by global warming, resulting in an earlier occurrence of phenological stages in the future as compared to today. For plants, this could lead to a higher exposure to climatic shocks (late frosts in spring, and critical high temperatures in summer) and changes in the incidence of insect pests. Assessing the implications of such shifts in phenology is important to be able to devise, where necessary, means for reducing biotic and abiotic risks in plant production. In this contribution we present an analysis of the potential impacts of climate change on the risk of late frost and damages to fruits caused by critically high temperatures in apple orchards across Switzerland. We further discuss the possible effects of climate change on the appearance of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), the key apple pest in many areas of the world. To conduct the analysis, we run carefully calibrated phenological models for different apple cultivars and the codling moth, feeding them with updated, transient climate change scenarios covering 1980-2100 developed for Switzerland on a 2 km x 2 km spatial-resolution grid. The climate scenarios represent three different emissions pathways allowing for consideration of a wide range of future climates. The results are discussed in a broader context by comparison with findings from other countries.

Global warming is expected to accelerate the development of plants and insects leading to earlier occurrence of phenological stages than under today’s climate. This can alter the exposure of plants to extreme climate events and further change the synchrony between host plants and pest insects. Assessing the implications of earlier development for the exposure to risks is necessary to inform adaptation. In this contribution we present an analysis of potential impacts of climate change on (i) the risk of early frost in apple orchards and damages to apple fruits due to critically high temperatures, (ii) the time of apple picking, and (iii) the potential of damages caused by the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), for three different apple cultivars in Switzerland. To this aim, carefully calibrated phenological models for apple trees and the codling moth are run with updated climate change scenarios. The climate scenarios comprises three different emissions scenarios. To underline the utility of phenological models and data for informing society, we show how this assessment is integrated into a recent initiative to implement National Climate Services in Switzerland in response to the Global Framework for Climate Services issued by the World Meteorological Organisation.

Ende 2015 hat der Bund das National Centre for Climate Services (NCCS) ins Leben gerufen, welches in Form eines Netzwerkes agiert. Aufgabe des NCCS ist die Koordination, Erarbeitung und Verbreitung von Klimadienstleistungen als Grundlage für die Anpassung an den Klimawandel. Dabei handelt es sich um Informationen über das vergangene, aktuelle und zukünftige Klima und die Folgen des Klimawandels. Sie helfen Behörden, Politik und Wirtschaft klimakompatible Entscheidungen zu treffen. Das NCCS bündelt die Klimadienstleistungen des Bundes, entwickelt gemeinsam neue massgeschneiderte Lösungen und initiiert und fördert den Dialog zwischen den verschiedenen Akteuren und Akteurinnen, welche Klimadienstleistungen nutzen. Im ersten Forum im Dezember in Bern stellt sich das NCCS selber vor. Was sind Funktionen und Tätigkeiten des Netzwerks? Der Anlass hat zum Ziel, Anbieter und Anwender auf allen Ebenen zu vernetzen sowie interaktiv Ideen und Bedürfnisse auszutauschen. Zusammen mit dem am Nachmittag stattfindenden alljährlichen Symposium «Anpassung an den Klimawandel» werden die enge Verknüpfung und Synergien

Temperature is a main climatic driver of plant phenology and the dominant abiotic factor directly affecting insect pests. Global warming is therefore expected to accelerate the development of plants and insects alike. In the case of multivoltine pest species, it was shown that higher temperatures lead to the appearance of additional generations toward the end of the warm season (Stöckli et al., 2012), which also has implications for pest management. The same effect was shown for the timing of flowering termination of apple trees (Stöckli and Samietz, 2015), the time when a pest can attack a fruit. In practice, however, much would depend on whether plant and pest phenology remain synchronized or not. Focusing on Switzerland, in this contribution we present an analysis of potential impacts of climate change on plant and pest phenology. and their interlinkages at the example of the apple tree (Malus pumila L.) and the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), a fruit crop of economic relevance worldwide. Key developmental stages of the apple and the codling moth were simulated by means of two heat summation models. The models were calibrated with lab and field data from Switzerland and subsequently run with observed weather data and various climate change scenarios. The time period between flowering termination and the harvest of the apples was compared to the appearance of the second and third generation of codling moth larvae to study the interlinkage between host and pest. To illustrate the potential for practical applications of the phenology models, we used spatial temperature data of Switzerland to produce risk maps that can serve as a basis for further studies and decision support.

Purpose – Although the importance of climate change is generally acknowledged, its impacts are often not taken into account explicitly when planning development projects. This being due to limited resources, among others, this paper aims to propose a simple and low-cost approach to assess the viability of human activities under climate change. Design/methodology/approach – Many human activities are feasible only within a narrow range of climatic conditions. Comparing such “climate corridors” with future climate projections provides an intuitive yet quantitative means for assessing needs for, and the viability of, adaptation activities under climate change. Findings – The approach was tested within development projects in Pakistan, Peru and Tajikistan. The approach was shown to work well for forestry and agriculture, indicating positive/negative prospects for wheat in two districts in Pakistan, temperature constraints for maize in Peru and widening elevation ranges for walnut trees in Tajikistan. Practical implications – Climate corridor analyses feed into the preparation of Local Adaptation Plans of Action in Pakistan. Originality/value – The simplicity and robustness of climate corridor analysis allow for efficient analysis and communication of climate change impacts. It works when data availability is limited, but it can as well accommodate a wide range of complexities. It has proven to be an effective vehicle for mainstreaming climate change into adaptation planning.

Extreme events such as frost, drought or excessive heat occurring during a critical plant stage can cause extensive and sometimes irreversible damages to agricultural production. Tools for gauging the occurrence of extreme events can thus play an important role in the context of agricultural decision problems. Agroclimatic indicators offer simple means to discriminate between favourable and unfavourable conditions. Their evaluation can be supported by dedicated software tools, even though this typically requires local installation of the proposed solution. Here we present webXTREME, a new web-based tool to characterize the occurrence and intensity of extreme events in agriculture (available through www.modextreme.org/webxtreme, accessed on 6 April, 2016). Objectives, which motivated its development, were: ease of access (available from any internet-connected device), simple setup, universal compatibility (no installation required), extensibility and the possibility to offer regular updating services. webXTREME was designed to help scientists and practitioners with various backgrounds to configure the solving algorithms by taking into account plant-specific thresholds and relevant time windows during the growing seasons of arable crops, grasslands and woody species. Graphical display of the results enables comparative assessments, either in space or in time. webXTREME was implemented using Shiny, an open-source web application framework for R. This allows combining the computational power of dedicated R functions with modern web technologies. webXTREME can easily be integrated into other modelling platforms (e.g. BioMA, http://bioma.jrc.ec.europa.e

Within the context of the Climate Change Adaptation Program (PACC) a number of scientific investigations on water resources natural disasters and perceptions by local people highlight adaptation needs in the regions of Cusco and Apurímac in Peru considering past present day and future climate conditions. This chapter compiles their findings and attempts a systematic evaluation with respect to their contributions to climate change adaptation. The studies consistently find aggravating water scarcity during the dry season (April to September) due to projected precipitation decreases and reduced storage capacity of shrinking glaciers. Impacts include below capacity hydropower generation and increased crop failure risks. For natural disasters database inconsistencies prevent a detection of trends. While the natural science studies have produced a new and more comprehensive understanding of the target regions their implications for society have hardly been investigated anthropologically. One of the few social science studies emphasizes that climate change is only one out of many determinants of rural livelihoods in the target regions which have not been addressed scientifically yet. We thereby find an imbalance of available scientific knowledge regarding natural vs. social sciences. Overcoming such imbalance would allow for a more comprehensive integration of scientific findings into design and implementation of adaptation measures within the local context.

As significant impacts of climate change are increasingly considered unavoidable, adaptation has become a policy priority. It is generally agreed that science is important for the adaptation process but specific guidance on how and to what degree science should contribute and be embedded in this process is still limited which is at odds with the high demand for science contributions to climate adaptation by international organizations, national governments and others. Here we present and analyze experiences from the tropical Andes based on a recent science-policy process on the national and supra-national government level. During this process a framework for the science contribution in climate adaptation has been developed; it consists of three stages, including (1) the framing and problem definition, (2) the scientific assessment of climate, impacts, vulnerabilities and risks, and (3) the evaluation of adaptation options and their implementation. A large amount of methods has been analyzed for stage (2), and a number of major climate adaptation projects in the region assessed for (3). Our study underlines the importance of joint problem framing among various scientific and non-scientific actors, definition of socio-environmental systems, time frames, and a more intense interaction of social and physical climate and impact sciences. Scientifically, the scarcity of environmental, social and economic data in regions like the Andes continue to represent a limitation to adaptation, and further investments into coordinated socio-environmental monitoring, data availability and sharing are essential.

Process-based models (PBMs) are important tools for predicting and understanding the impacts of climate change on grassland systems. The models should be able to simulate changes in sward nutritional value (NV) over time in order to better understand the interactions between grasslands and ruminant nutrition. Changes in the NV of forage may not only alter animal performance but also the need for other feeds, the management and productivity of the system, the quality of final products and the environmental impacts of production. Climate change is expected to affect the NV of grasslands by affecting plant physiological processes, and via effects on species composition. An increase in temperature may cause an increase in NDF and lignin content of forages, thus reducing digestibility by domestic herbivores. On the other hand, under high CO2, analyses on both temporary and permanent grasslands indicate a strong increase in soluble sugar content, which increases the energetic value and the aptitude for ensiling of grass. Conversely, a decrease of the CP content in grass dry matter up to 30% is observed. The reduction in the forage protein and energy content lowers the rumen microbial synthesis and availability of microbial proteins for ruminant growth and production, and may also lead to increased production of methane (a greenhouse gas) by methanogens in the rumen. Ruminants kept in extensive systems that are based on low protein forages may be sensitive to these negative effects. On the contrary, an increase in soluble sugar and decrease in CP content would rather be positive for ruminants in intensive high protein forage systems. Modelling grassland NV is often based on variables describing the energy and protein content of forage. However, a wide range of variables are used to define forage NV in experimental data, presenting challenges for modellers. Further complication arises from the dissimilar feeding regimes used across the different production systems in countries and regions. The aim of this work was to review the extent to which current grassland PBMs are capable of characterising the NV of forage species in grassland swards in relation to projected climate change. This includes the identification of the modelling approaches used, the key characteristics of the forages represented and the production systems these models have been developed for.

Climate change with increasing climate variability is likely to alter risks in agricultural production. The effectiveness of using weather derivatives to hedge against drought risks for rain-fed grain maize production was investigated for current (1981-2003) and future (2070- 2100) climates in Switzerland. The climate change scenario was extrapolated from results of a regional climate model (HIRHAM4) based on the IPCC A2 emission scenario. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the mean and variance of the initial probability space for the seasonal precipitation sum. Profits and risks with and without hedging were compared using the analogy of the value-at-risk measure (VaR), i.e., a quantile-based measure of risk. A Monte Carlo chain composed of different models was used, with each model consisting of functions translating weather variables into the stochastic distributions for grain yield and economic returns. Depending on location, hedging reduced VaR to a variable degree under both current and future climatic conditions, with a considerable basis risk due to spatial heterogeneity of precipitation. The results also showed that hedging might provide a valid risk transfer since loading of 90 to 240% of the fair premium can be paid to obtain a hedged situation with improved outcomes relative to the business-as-usual reference. However, due to the uncertainty attached to climate scenarios and a strong bias in precipitation scenarios for the European alpine region, application of weather derivatives would require continuous re-equilibration and recalculation of the premiums. Depending on local conditions, the fair premium of a specific contract for hedging against weather risks in grain maize production may vary by a factor of two to four over the 70-year period considered. This represents a substantial uncertainty for both the underwriter (farmer) and the institution writing the contract.

International audience; We improved a process-oriented biogeochemical model of carbon and nitrogen cycling in grasslands and tested it against in situ measurements of biomass and CO2 and CH4 fluxes at five European grassland sites. The new version of the model (PASIM) calculates the growth and senescence of aboveground vegetation biomass accounting for sporadic removals when the grassland is cut and for continuous removals when it is grazed. Limitations induced by high leaf area index (LAI), soil water deficits and aging of leaves are also included. We added to this a simple empirical formulation to account for the detrimental impact on vegetation of trampling and excreta by grazing animals. Finally, a more realistic methane emission module than is currently used was introduced on the basis of the quality of the animals' diet. Evaluation of this improved version of PASIM is performed at (1) Laqueuille, France, on grassland continuously grazed by cattle with two plots of intensive and extensive grazing intensities, (2) Oensingen, Switzerland, on cut grassland with two fertilized and nonfertilized plots, and (3) Carlow, Ireland, on grassland that is both cut and grazed by cattle during the growing season. In addition, we compared the modeled animal CH4 emissions with in situ measurements on cattle for two grazing intensities at the grazed grassland site of Laqueuille. Altogether, when all improvements to the PASIM model are included, we found that the new parameterizations resulted into a better fit to the observed seasonal cycle of biomass and of measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes. However, the large uncertainties in measurements of biomass and LAI make simulation of biomass dynamics difficult to make. Also simulations for cut grassland are better than for grazed swards. This work paves the way for simulating greenhouse gas fluxes over grasslands in a spatially explicit manner, in order to quantify and understand the past, present and future role of grasslands in the greenhouse gas budget of the European continent.

Climate change with increasing climate variability is likely to alter risks in agricultural production. The effectiveness of using weather derivatives to hedge against drought risks for rain-fed grain maize production was investigated for current (1981-2003) and future (2070- 2100) climates in Switzerland. The climate change scenario was extrapolated from results of a regional climate model (HIRHAM4) based on the IPCC A2 emission scenario. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the mean and variance of the initial probability space for the seasonal precipitation sum. Profits and risks with and without hedging were compared using the analogy of the value-at-risk measure (VaR), i.e., a quantile-based measure of risk. A Monte Carlo chain composed of different models was used, with each model consisting of functions translating weather variables into the stochastic distributions for grain yield and economic returns. Depending on location, hedging reduced VaR to a variable degree under both current and future climatic conditions, with a considerable basis risk due to spatial heterogeneity of precipitation. The results also showed that hedging might provide a valid risk transfer since loading of 90 to 240% of the fair premium can be paid to obtain a hedged situation with improved outcomes relative to the business-as-usual reference. However, due to the uncertainty attached to climate scenarios and a strong bias in precipitation scenarios for the European alpine region, application of weather derivatives would require continuous re-equilibration and recalculation of the premiums. Depending on local conditions, the fair premium of a specific contract for hedging against weather risks in grain maize production may vary by a factor of two to four over the 70-year period considered. This represents a substantial uncertainty for both the underwriter (farmer) and the institution writing the contract.

International audience; We apply a simulation model in order to quantify the patterns of carbon and nitrogen cycling within European grasslands. We map the fluxes of CO$_2$, N$_2$O and CH$_4$ exchanged with the atmosphere as controlled by climate and management conditions. We distinguish between grazing and cutting practice. Because geo-referenced management information for grasslands does not exist at the scale of Europe, we develop a new and robust set of rules defining some management variables. We then perform realistic simulations in term of N fertilization using a national level data set. The model results at European scale are compared with agricultural statistics (yield, animal stocks), which shows that our very simple management calculation is reasonably realistic. We also compare the simulated seasonal cycle of grassland phenology as calculated by PASIM with remote sensing observations from the EOS-TERRA-MODIS satellite, which shows a good general agreement. Emission factors for soil N$_2$O and grazing animals CH$_4$ emissions are diagnosed from the model runs and shown to be comparable to those of previous experimental surveys. We investigate impact of N fertilization on NPP and C storage potential, N$_2$O emissions by soils and CH$_4$ emissions by ruminants. We conclude that, for different time horizon, CH$_4$ and N$_2$O sources are lower than the potential sink of CO$_2$, on a carbon equivalent basis. This result is independent of fertilization intensity but assumes that the current soil C stocks are below the long-term equilibrium values.

Agriculture, 3 (2), ISSN:2077-0472

Measurements of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were performed at Hyytiälä, a Boreal forest site in Southern Finland as part of the OSOA (origin and formation of secondary organic aerosol) project in August 2001. At this site, frequent formation of new particles has been observed and the role of biogenic VOCs in this process is still unclear. Tethered balloons served as platforms to collect VOC samples within the planetary boundary layer at heights up to 1.2 km above ground during daytime. Mean mixed layer concentrations of total monoterpenes varied between 10 and 170 pptv, with a-pinene, limonene and D3-carene as major compounds, isoprene was detected at levels of 2-35 pptv. A mixed layer gradient technique and a budget approach are applied to derive surface fluxes representative for areas of tens to hundreds of square kilometres. Effects of spatial heterogeneity in surface emissions are examined with a footprint analysis. Depending on the source area considered, mean afternoon emissions of the sum of terpenes range between 180 and 300 mg m-2 h-1 for the period of 2-12 August 2001. Surface fluxes close to Hyytiälä were higher than the regional average, and agree well with mean emissions predicted by a biogenic VOC emission model. Total rates of monoterpene oxidation were calculated with a photochemical model. The rates did not correlate with the occurrence of new particle formation, but the ozone pathway was of more importance on days with particle formation. Condensable vapour production from the oxidation of monoterpenes throughout the mixed layer can only account for a fraction of the increase in aerosol mass observed at the surface., Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 4 (1), ISSN:1680-7375, ISSN:1680-7367

‘The Symposium on Climate Change and Variability – Agro Meteorological Monitoring and Coping Strategies for Agriculture’ is organized by the Management Committee of COST734’ Impact of Climate Change and Variability on European Agriculture’ and the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) of WMO. The content of the symposium is closely connected to the themes of the working groups of COST734 and the term of reference of the ‘WMO Expert Team on Climate Risks in Vulnerable Areas” The symposium is devoted to the very important issue of agricultural crop production and climate change. The discussion is placed in the light of agro meteorology, in Europe and in the rest of the world. The event will serve as a meeting place between meteorologists and agronomists. The cooperation between these two groups of researchers is important to find optimal mitigation and adaptation strategies with respect to impacts of climate change/variability on agriculture. The book of abstracts for the symposium contains altogether 52 contributions. 26 of the abstracts are oral contributions, and 26 of the abstracts will be presented as posters.

‘The Symposium on Climate Change and Variability – Agro Meteorological Monitoring and Coping Strategies for Agriculture’ is organized by the Management Committee of COST734’ Impact of Climate Change and Variability on European Agriculture’ and the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) of WMO. The content of the symposium is closely connected to the themes of the working groups of COST734 and the term of reference of the ‘WMO Expert Team on Climate Risks in Vulnerable Areas” The symposium is devoted to the very important issue of agricultural crop production and climate change. The discussion is placed in the light of agro meteorology, in Europe and in the rest of the world. The event will serve as a meeting place between meteorologists and agronomists. The cooperation between these two groups of researchers is important to find optimal mitigation and adaptation strategies with respect to impacts of climate change/variability on agriculture. The book of abstracts for the symposium contains altogether 52 contributions. 26 of the abstracts are oral contributions, and 26 of the abstracts will be presented as posters.