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Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 5004

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Prof. Dr. Danijel Jug

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Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: conservation soil tillage; sustainable soil/land management; climate change in agriculture
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Prof. Dr. Irena Jug

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Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: agroecology; sustainable soil/land management; climate smart agriculture; regenerative agriculture
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Dr. Monika Marković

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Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: irrigation; drought; crop water requirements; soil water content; soil moisture sensors; irrigation water quality; salinity; abiotic stress
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Dr. Jurica Jović

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Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J.Strossmayer in Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs); microbial biomass; crop production; agroecology; applied microbiology in agriculture
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agriculture today stands at a crossroads as climate change reshapes food production. By adopting regenerative practices that restore soil health and capture carbon, and utilizing precision farming and digital tools for smarter, more efficient production, farmers are responding with ingenuity, deploying a multifaceted approach to adaptation and mitigation. At the same time, organic and agroecological approaches aim to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability. Climate change is already affecting global food security by altering crop yields and quality, spreading pests and diseases, and forcing changes in animal husbandry. Ensuring a stable food supply calls for forward-thinking strategies that balance productivity with resilience. Effective water management is now critical, encompassing smarter irrigation, robust solutions for droughts and extreme rainfall, and the safe utilization of wastewater as key adaptive strategies. Green innovations—from biotechnology and genetic improvements for resilient crops to AI and satellite monitoring—are transforming how we address these challenges while simultaneously reducing agriculture's carbon footprint through renewable energy integration. The success of these initiatives ultimately rests on a foundation of supportive policies and strong cooperation: the EU Green Deal, support for small and medium-sized farms, and international funding for climate action all play vital roles in building a more sustainable, climate-ready agricultural future.

Prof. Dr. Danijel Jug
Prof. Dr. Irena Jug
Dr. Monika Marković
Dr. Jurica Jović
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

climate change
sustainable agriculture
food security
regenerative practices
precision farming
water management
green innovation
biotechnology
renewable energy
climate policy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 18893 KB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Water Content Distribution and Maize Yield Stability Under Conventional and Conservation Tillage Systems on a Silty Gleysol

by Monika Marković, Irena Jug, Danijel Jug, Boris Đurđević, Bojana Brozović, Vedran Lederer and Željko Barač

Agriculture 2026, 16(10), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101124 - 21 May 2026

Viewed by 161

Abstract

Structural and functional soil degradation under conventional tillage has reached a critical point, requiring a shift towards conservation practices to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. This study evaluated the multi-year effects (2021–2024) of conventional tillage (CT), conservation deep tillage (CD), and conservation shallow tillage (CS) on soil physical properties (density, air capacity, and water content), water distribution, infiltration rate, and maize yield in a silty Gleysol. Soil water content (SWC), i.e., distribution, was monitored using PR2 profile probes at depths of 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm. CT treatment resulted in impaired soil physical properties, characterized by a significant increase in air capacity (+233.9%) and with a significant decrease in volumetric water content (qw, ≈40%). In contrast to CT (47.91 cm h⁻¹), the CS treatment resulted in more favorable hydraulic properties, i.e., and infiltration rate of 102.29 cm h⁻¹, by 2024. Statistical analysis (R², RMSE) confirmed that CS provides the most reliable and consistent environment for monitoring SWC. While maize yields were significantly higher in CT during the initial year (2021; 9.5 t ha⁻¹ vs. 8.4 t ha⁻¹ in CS), no significant differences were observed by 2024, and all tillage systems reached yields of ≈13.0 t ha⁻¹. The results suggest that after the four-year study period, CS tillage stabilized soil hydraulic properties and pore continuity, thereby resulting in maize yields equivalent to those of CT. Therefore, CS has proven to be a more resilient and effective strategy for sustainable water management in silty Gleysols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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22 pages, 1115 KB

Open AccessArticle

Extreme Weather Impact and Urban–Rural Income Gap: A Study on the Mitigation Effect of Agricultural Insurance Based on Provincial Panel Data in China

by Bin Xu and Xu Tan

Agriculture 2026, 16(10), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101098 - 16 May 2026

Viewed by 317

Abstract

In recent years, the frequency, damage and impact scope of extreme weather events have increased and expanded significantly. Based on the official secondary panel data of 26 provinces in China from 2006 to 2022, this paper explores the impact of extreme weather on the urban–rural income gap. Employing benchmark regression, mediating effect and moderating effect models, this study empirically analyzed the transmission mechanism by which extreme weather affects the urban–rural income gap through crop damage caused by disasters and the mitigating role of agricultural insurance. The key findings reveal that extreme weather significantly widens the urban–rural income gap, with the severity of disaster losses serving as the primary transmission path. Furthermore, agricultural insurance effectively mitigates this shock by hedging against the loss of rural residents’ disposable income. Heterogeneity analysis shows that extreme precipitation and droughts exert the most pronounced effects, and the widening of the income gap is particularly significant in the western region of China. Consequently, it is imperative to promote the integration of meteorological services and agricultural insurance risk reduction services, improve the core infrastructure of rural disaster resistance, and build a differentiated agricultural insurance policy system for risk zones to narrow the income gap between urban and rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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33 pages, 3239 KB

Open AccessArticle

Adoption of Conservation Agriculture and Its Implications for Household Food Security Among Small-Scale Farmers in Mpumalanga, South Africa

by Tapelo Blessing Nkambule and Isaac Azikiwe Agholor

Agriculture 2026, 16(9), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16090976 - 29 Apr 2026

Viewed by 630

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is widely promoted as a climate-smart approach to improve productivity and resilience, especially among small-scale farmers who face socioeconomic and climate-related risks that threaten their livelihoods. However, evidence linking CA adoption to household food-security outcomes in South Africa remains limited. This study examines patterns and determinants of CA adoption and assesses its implications for household food security among small-scale farmers in three municipalities of Mpumalanga Province. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 391 farmers selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and binary logistic regression. Results show that CA adoption was widespread but largely partial, with most farmers adopting one or two principles rather than the full CA package. Access to CA-related resources and information, household size, livelihood strategy, farm income, and farm size significantly influenced adoption. Higher adoption intensity was consistently associated with improved food-security outcomes, including increased production, lower food-insecurity severity, greater crop diversification, higher likelihood of year-round production, and increased market participation. The study concludes that conservation agriculture can contribute positively to multiple dimensions of household food security when adopted as an integrated system, but partial adoption yields limited benefits. Targeted extension support, improved access to resources, and context-specific interventions are required to enhance sustained and holistic CA adoption among small-scale farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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18 pages, 592 KB

Open AccessArticle

Under Pressure: Climate Variability and Economic Impacts on Swine Production in Brazil

by Rômulo Francisco de Souza Maia and Irenilza de Alencar Nääs

Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070791 - 2 Apr 2026

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Abstract

Climate change poses increasing challenges to livestock production in tropical regions, where rising temperatures, rainfall variability, and feed cost fluctuations affect productivity and economic stability. However, few studies have jointly quantified the effects of climatic and economic variables on swine production in tropical production systems, particularly in Brazil. This study examined the effects of maximum temperature, precipitation, and feed price on swine production density in Brazil’s main producing states. The analysis included Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul as the principal empirical base, while Mato Grosso was retained because of its strategic relevance but contributed only limited observations and was therefore interpreted more cautiously. Using monthly observations and a multiple linear regression model with heteroskedasticity- and autocorrelation-consistent (HAC, Newey–West) standard errors, we found that higher maximum mean temperatures were associated with lower production density: a 1 °C increase corresponded to an estimated decline of 1.34 × 10⁶ kg/km². Precipitation showed a positive association, with each additional millimeter corresponding to an increase of approximately 1.82 × 10⁵ kg/km², whereas a 0.173 USD/kg increase in feed price was associated with a reduction of about 6.2 × 10⁶ kg/km². Although the model explained only a modest share of monthly variation (R² = 0.162), the results suggest that climatic exposure and feed-cost pressure are relevant components of swine production dynamics in Brazil and should be considered in future climate-risk and agricultural planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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Review

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34 pages, 4463 KB

Open AccessReview

Climate-Resilient Soybean: Integrated Breeding Strategies for Mitigating Drought and Heat Stress

by Kyung-Hee Kim, Sun Hee Lim, Sung Don Lim, Jungmin Ha and Byung-Moo Lee

Agriculture 2026, 16(4), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16040445 - 14 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 836

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plays a pivotal role in global food security as a primary source of vegetable protein and oil. However, its production is increasingly jeopardized by the frequent concurrence of drought and heat stress, a scenario predicted to intensify under ongoing climate change. While the effects of individual stresses have been well documented, the combined occurrence of drought and heat imposes unique physiological challenges, such as the conflict between stomatal closure for water conservation and transpirational cooling, that critically impair yield stability. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the physiological and molecular mechanisms governing soybean responses to these combined stresses, with a specific focus on modifications of root system architecture and the sensitivity of biological nitrogen fixation. We critically analyze recent advances in genomic resources, highlighting key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and multi-omics integration. Furthermore, we propose integrated breeding strategies that bridge conventional breeding with cutting-edge technologies, including high-throughput phenotyping, speed breeding, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, underpinned by high-throughput phenotyping and speed breeding. By presenting a roadmap for developing climate-smart soybean cultivars, this review aims to support sustainable agricultural practices that ensure both adaptation and mitigation in a changing climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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18 pages, 6468 KB

Open AccessReview

Carbon Sequestration Under Different Agricultural Land Use in Croatia

by Igor Bogunovic

Agriculture 2025, 15(17), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15171821 - 27 Aug 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1407

Abstract

In order to help mitigate climate change, carbon farming methods must be urgently introduced. The research systematically reviewed peer-reviewed literature, national statistical reports, and policy documents published between 2000 and 2024, focusing on the impact of land management on soil organic carbon in Croatia. This paper provides an overview of current agricultural practices on croplands and grasslands in Croatia. It identifies the weak points of current soil management and suggests possible measures for carbon sequestration in cropland and grassland soils. About 89% of Croatian soils are tilled conventionally, along with other harmful practices such as uncontrolled grazing and improper fertilization, which contribute to increasing carbon losses and soil degradation. Different practices are presented and discussed as possible solutions, each adapted to the specific environmental and soil conditions of Croatia. For example, studies in Croatian Stagnosols report 5% lower CO₂ emissions under conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage, while long-term grass cover in perennial croplands has shown soil organic carbon increases of up to 51%. The recommendations are categorised according to the possibility of a change in carbon stocks over time and the associated carbon storage potential. Croatia needs to recognize any shortcomings in the existing system and create incentives and policies to transform management practices into site and environment-specific regional practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change in Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Adaptation and Mitigation)

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