71% of farmers say climate change has a big impact on their farm, and even more say they are worried about the impact it could have in the future. It is estimated that their income has decreased by 15.7% on average due to climate change in the last two years, and one in six even indicated a loss of income of more than 25%. This was found in the Bayer “Voice of the Farmer” survey, which revealed the challenges facing farmers around the world in trying to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to the future. Of this, 800 farmers from around the world were independently interviewed, representing large and small farms in equal parts of Germany, Australia, Brazil, China, the United States, India, Kenya and Ukraine.
Rodrigo Santos, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of Bayer Crop Science, commented that “farmers are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change on their farms and, at the same time , has an important role in solving it. “big challenge; That’s why it’s so important to put your voice forward: the losses recorded in this survey show the direct threat posed by climate change to global food security». And farmers expect the effects of climate change to continue: three quarters of them are worried about the impact of climate change on their farms, especially in Kenya and India.
Although climate change is a dominant issue, Economic challenges will be the highest priority for the next three years. More than half (55%) of farmers ranked fertilizer costs in their top three challenges, followed by energy costs (47%), price and income volatility (37%) and the cost of plant protection (36%). In Ukraine, for example, 70% of farmers mention the cost of fertilizers as one of the top three challenges; Additionally, 40% cited the general disruption caused by the war.
Measures to minimize the impact
However, more than 80% of the farmers surveyed have already adopted or plan to adopt measures that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. The main areas of interest are the use of green roofs (43% already do this or intend to do so), the use of renewable energy or biofuels (37%) and the use of new seeds to reduce the use of fertilizers or phytosanitary products (33%). Similarly, each of the farmers surveyed confirmed that they have applied or plan to use safety measures. helps biodiversity. Even more than half (54%) say they have taken steps to protect insects or plan to do so in the next three years.
Efficient land use, plant diversity and improving soil health are the most important paths to success.
To prepare for the future, innovation plays an important role. More than half of the farmers (53%) say that access to seeds and traits for better able to cope with extreme weather conditions This is the most useful for your enjoyment. A similar number (50%) called for better crop protection technology and 42% said better access to irrigation technology would benefit their farms. Regarding its practices, the development of efficient land use, the plant diversification and improving soil quality and health are the most important paths to success.
Overall, the survey shows that farmers around the world share a common view of current challenges and future prospects. Although there are slight differences between countries, the common problems created by climate change and economic pressures are of equal concern to all. However, almost three-quarters say they feel positive about the future of agriculture in their country. “This is surprising and inspiring: the views expressed by farmers in the report should be a call to action for the entire food system to change, collaborate and provide solutions that farmers need farmer,” said Rodrigo Santos. Well, given the growth of the world’s population, these findings should serve as a reason to adopt measures that promote regenerative models of agriculture.
