2024-07-16 21:00:33
BOLZANO. Climate change, the introduction of increasingly stringent European regulations and the measures envisaged by the Climate Plan 2040 have a direct impact on the agricultural sector. The Economic Research Institute of the Chamber of Commerce of Bolzano has conducted asurvey among South Tyrolean farmers to find out their opinion on these issues. The survey shows that climate change and its repercussions are hot topics among South Tyrolean farmers. The main concerns are the direct effects of global warming, such as more frequent and intense storms, theincrease in droughtthe spread of parasites and the heat waves.
The implications of climate change at the regulatory and economic policy levels are instead considered relatively less problematic. The perception of climate risks is more marked in fruit and wine growing than in livestock farming. Most farmers believe that specific interventions are needed to address the challenges posed by climate change. These interventions concern in particular the improvement of water supply andinsurance against damage caused by bad weather. Especially for fruit growers it is important to protect themselves from hail and to introduce new crops that are more resistant to the climate and pests. For wine growers too, protection from hail damage is a crucial issue. In addition, they mention the need to prevent erosion phenomena, an aspect that is also considered important by many breeders.
Among the measures contained in the Alto Adige Climate Plan 2040, the major critical issues according to farmers concern the Reduction of incentives for diesel agricultural vehicles. L’increase in hay milk quota is considered problematic by about a quarter of breeders and the increase to 25 percent of the agricultural area cultivated with organic methods is a cause for concern for almost half of fruit growers. Wine growers, on the other hand, do not identify particular critical issues for any of the measures indicated in the Climate Plan.
Differences also emerge based on the age of the owner: young farmers (under 35) see greater critical issues in the 2040 Climate Plan than their older colleagues. Furthermore, they are more aware of the risks deriving from the possible political and regulatory consequences of climate change, such as possible obligations to report the environmental impact of their activity, possible tightening of the regulations on greenhouse gas emissions or the reduction of public contributions to productions considered harmful to the climate.
Michl Ebner, President of the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes: “Due to the high dependence on weather and climate, it is particularly important for agriculture to be aware of the consequences of climate change and to prepare for these risks in good time.”
2024-07-16 21:00:33