Carrying the costs of unrealistic climate adaptation

Climate change is reshaping the way South African farmers produce food, with increasing pressure from both the environment and the market.

- Lindi Botha

As temperatures rise and weather patterns become less predictable, farmers face a growing list of risks, from new pests and diseases to shifting crop suitability. Yet at the same time, they are being asked to meet consumer and legislative expectations that are often disconnected from on-the-ground realities.

Speaking at the AgriSA Atlas Congress held in Pretoria, Gauteng, in October, Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the South African Plant Improvement Organisation, said the challenge for fruit farmers is particularly complex because of the long-term nature of their crops. “We don’t farm a short-term crop. An apple tree stays in the ground for 60 to 80 years, so it’s a huge risk to select a variety for an unknown future climate.”