News
09.03.2010
The ministers of agriculture of the Mediterranean countries are examining the consequences of climate change
At the 8th Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Elena Espinosa highlighted the importance of implementing policies that encourage the agricultural sector to adapt to climate change, both in terms of its physical aspects and its economic impact. The Minister said that water availability was one of the major consequences of climate change for the agriculture of Mediterranean countries and pointed out that water is an essential element for improving food safety, for increasing crop productivity and for promoting the economic development of rural areas. She pointed out that saving water will not be enough and that reusing waste water and using desalination when possible will be needed; she went on to stress the need to continue exploring new ways of obtaining these resources using as little energy as possible in order to reduce their cost and their environmental consequences. The Spanish Minister said that it is essential to involve the population and farmers in the fight against water shortage, pointing out that governments have a key role in implementing policies that encourage water to be rationalised, saved and reused, and to seek out new resources and make the necessary investments in irrigation systems. Espinosa also made reference to the intensity of various climate phenomena that cause major variations in harvests and impact on agricultural revenue, another consequence of climate change. She went on to say that one of the best policies for adapting to the consequences of climate change is having a strong risk management policy that protects farmers from sharp falls in income that can be caused by climate hazards.
