What Could Climate Change Mean for Farming in Canterbury?

The human influence on the climate system are clear. The impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across Aotearoa New Zealand and the world. Extreme weather conditions and weather-related events, as well as changes in average conditions, are highlighting the need for quick global action. Interconnected systems, including food production, processing and distribution, face disruption. Future-proofing our farming systems and land use is essential to not only to continue to provide food safe for consumption in a sustainable way, but also to meet the growing and changing food demands of our rising population.

Explore the history of land use of in Canterbury, what it looks like today and what the landscape may look like in the future. What is the reality of this issue? What are the adaption and mitigation strategies we need for sustainable development- – starting now and, in the future, to prepare for and manage the opportunities and challenges? What time frames do we need to consider? What farming and food production systems, new technology and management practices must be considered and adapted to combat disruption and optimise land use? What could this mean for water supply?

“Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.” Source : United Nations

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