Modelling the impact of climate change on agriculture in North Africa and Southwest Asia

Publication date: 24/07/2023
Extent: 44 pages

Contributions by: Ehsan Eyshi Rezaei, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany; and Sevim Seda Yamaç, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Turkey

Chapter synopsis:

The impacts of climate change on food production in North Africa and Southwest Asia are severe, with rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells adversely affecting crop productivity and quality. Crop models are utilized to evaluate the impact of climate change and the potential of adaptation strategies to stabilize/enhance crop yields. The majority of studies in North Africa have focused on Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Southwest Asia, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey have been the focus of most studies. Limitations in impact assessment studies in these regions include a lack of data, compatibility of crop models, and inability of models to consider the effects of biotic stressors on crop growth due to poor agronomic practices. To reduce the uncertainty of model driven impact assessments, targeted experimental platforms are necessary to establish to explore the response of local crops and genotypes to potential adaptation strategies. Crop models should also encompass perennial crops and grasslands and use remote sensing technologies to provide high-resolution data for data-scarce regions.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2022.0115.20