What is a core principle of climate-smart agriculture?

A core principle of climate-smart agriculture is the focus on adaptation to climate changes while increasing productivity. This approach recognizes the necessity of addressing current and future climate challenges, such as extreme weather events and changing precipitation patterns, while simultaneously working to enhance agricultural productivity. By integrating sustainable practices that are resilient to climate variability, climate-smart agriculture aims to ensure food security, improve livelihoods, and conserve natural resources.

This principle acknowledges that agriculture must evolve in response to climate change effects, incorporating practices that not only maintain but also improve yield over the long term. It promotes strategies such as crop diversification, improved soil management, and efficient water use, all of which are essential for productive and sustainable farming in a changing climate.

In contrast, options that suggest maximizing chemical inputs or relying solely on traditional methods overlook the necessity for adaptation and innovation in farming practices, while focusing solely on short-term yield increases ignores the long-term sustainability and resiliency needed in agriculture facing the realities of climate change.