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The Mediterranean Basin has been identified as a climate change "hotspot", a region where increased warming and drying are expected to occur at rates faster than the global average. Increasing scientific attention has therefore been drawn to the repercussions of climate change for the Mediterranean's diverse and valued agricultural sector. The extent to which these repercussions vary throughout the region, owing both to a non-uniform distribution of climatic hazards and to uneven adaptive capacities of farmers, remains however unquantified. We hereby provide a comprehensive spatial assessment of the potential to implement different farm-based land and water management adaptations across the Mediterranean's croplands, and evaluate the extent to which different regions see a match or a mismatch between areas of adaptation need and areas of adaptation capacity. This approach made use of spatial multi-criteria analysis to evaluate the suitability of different farm adaptations, and relied on the Ecocrop climate suitability model and climate data on changing duration or frequency of extremes to identify areas of adaptation need under a high-end climate change scenario. The adaptations explored in this work span a range of sustainable approaches addressing different components of the farming system (soil-based, water-based, and crop-based adaptations). For each sub-system, we compared the potential to implement an adaptation representing an incremental change vs. one involving greater transformation. Results indicate a worsening of climatic conditions for all croplands in the region, and particularly within the Mediterranean extents of Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Israel. In more than half of these countries, >60% of highly affected Mediterranean areas, on average, see no tangible potential to implement adaptations. Importantly, potentials for adaptation, and particularly of transformational adaptations having the greatest hypothesized capacity to buffer against the effects of climate change, are found to be lower within areas where the most adverse climate change hazards are forecast to occur. For regions found to be approaching so-called limits to adaptation, this research contributes to growing calls for consideration of more transformational options, alongside the opportunities and sacrifices these options entail. For regions where considerable (yet unrealized) adaptation capacity is found to match areas of adaptation need, this paper instead presents a basis for further investigation on how to bridge adaptation capacity and preparedness. [Display omitted] • Mediterranean croplands will witness increased drought and heat stress under RCP 8.5. • Croplands in the south-west and east will face the greatest increases in climatic extremes. • Most regions have a > 50% spatial mismatch between adaptation potential and needs. • Adaptation potential is lower where most needed, especially for transformational adaptations. • Greater reflection on transformation needed as limits to adaptation are approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Moore Catchment, which lies to the north of Perth in Western Australia, suffers from a number of problems related to water management. Farmers want to manage salinity and waterlogging problems through the use of drains, but this has possible negative off-farm impacts on both the environment and flood risk. Views on responsibilities for managing water within the catchment differ between farmers, local communities and government agencies. This paper reports the results from surveys of attitudes towards catchment management, for two community groups: residents of Perth and residents of rural towns in the catchment. These surveys elicited general attitudes towards the environment and agriculture, and views on responsibilities for managing the catchment. It also included a choice modelling section, where the attributes under consideration included the area of land under salt and trees, ecological risks to off-farm wetlands and risk of flooding, farm incomes and personal financial contributions to a management fund. Preliminary results indicate that residents of both rural towns and Perth are willing to pay to avoid damage to the natural environment, both on and off-farm, as well as the risk of flooding. Perhaps more surprisingly, whether farmers’ incomes were being negatively affected in a choice set has a very strong impact on the choice made. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The system of rice intensification (SRI) has been proposed as an integrated and agroecologically sound approach to rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. It was mainly developed through participatory on-farm research conducted in Madagascar, but its evaluation is ongoing in Asia as well. This paper critically discusses some of the assumptions underlying the SRI and its scope for improving rice production in Asia. A review of cropping practices at known high-yield sites showed that techniques such as SRI are not necessary for growing rice near the yield potential. A move from permanent flooding to intermittent irrigation bears short- and long-term risks that are not well understood, but non-flooded conditions will generally favor rice growth on poor soils with potential for Fe toxicity. Deep root systems are associated with low input rice cropping and the intermittent water management practiced in SRI, but they are not a necessity for maximum rice performance, particularly in favorable environments with intensive cropping, short growth duration, and good water and nitrogen management. Approaches such as SRI may serve the important needs of resource-poor farmers in areas with poor soils, but are likely to have little potential for improving rice production in intensive irrigated systems on more favorable soils, where high yields can be achieved through implementation of more cost-efficient management practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Context: Effective vineyard decision making at strategic and operational timescales requires consideration of many factors, including vineyard design and management options, exogenous factors that are outside of the decision maker's control such as climate/weather, and desired outcomes such as yield and grape composition attributes. Process-based models enable prediction of vineyard outcomes in response to different decisions and with respect to exogenous factors. Objective: We present a review of process-based models that can simulate both key vineyard outcomes and their sensitivity to decisions and exogenous factors, and highlight how these models can 'bridge the gap' between data and decisions. Methods: We assess the suitability of process-based models to water, canopy and nutrient management contexts using a conceptual systems framework. Results and Conclusions: Currently available process-based models are most advanced in terms of supporting decisions regarding water management, and least advanced regarding nutrient management. They are also better suited to support decisions with respect to yield, compared to grape composition attributes. Significance: This paper provides guidance to modelling practitioners regarding appropriate process-based models for a range of vineyard decision contexts and assists viticulturists and decision makers in understanding how these models can support decisions for improved outcomes. [Display omitted] • A review of process-based models for decision support in viticulture. • Roles and requirements of process-based models for decision support identified using a conceptual systems framework. • Assessment of the suitability of process-based models for water, canopy and nutrient management. • Address the growing 'data to decisions' gap in viticulture due to under-utilization of process-based models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]