A scoping review on challenges and measures for climate change in arid and semi-arid agri-food systems
Admire R. Dzvene, Leocadia Zhou, Mhlangabezi Slayi, Tinashe Lindel Dirwai
Abstract
Climate change poses a significant threat to the sustainability of global agri-food systems. Arid and semi-arid regions are most vulnerable, where water scarcity and erratic weather patterns already challenge agricultural productivity. Therefore, understanding the climate challenges and the adaptive measures being implemented is essential to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability. The study aims to outline the current state of knowledge regarding the challenges and adaptive measures of agri-food systems in arid and semi-arid regions to climate change risks through a systematic review. The selection of articles followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, ultimately including 16 articles that met the study criteria out of the 238 articles initially identified in the Scopus database. Findings show that studies from China and the USA were the dominant case study countries. The identified effective adaptation strategies include strategic irrigation, crop diversification, and the use of heat-tolerant crop varieties. While simulation modeling is the predominant method used to assess climate impacts, the study highlights gaps in field experiments and household surveys that are essential for a comprehensive understanding of agri-food system resilience. Context-specific adaptation measures, regional collaboration, and integrated approaches such as the water-energy-food nexus are important to enhance the sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems under climate change. The findings offer critical insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability and ensure food security in vulnerable regions.