FONCIMED 2024: XIV FONCIMED Network International Seminar Universidad Internacional de Andalucía Baeza, Spain, October 9-11, 2024

Mediterranean farming systems and the climate crisis: impacts, contradictions and adaptation challenges. From land structures to territory

Mediterranean farming and forestry systems, whether agriculture, livestock farming or forestry, are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. In mid-latitude Mediterranean landscapes, climate change is leading to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather phenomena, in particular intense and prolonged droughts and torrential rainfall. It is also generating a marked increase in average temperatures, with recurrent heatwaves during the shoulder seasons, particularly in spring, which have a considerable impact on the biological cycle of natural and cultivated species.

In this context, despite the Mediterranean region's exposure to climate change, a number of factors are exacerbating its vulnerability. One of the paradoxes is that the Mediterranean agrosystems that are most resilient to climatic constraints, particularly dryland crops such as olive groves, vineyards and almond orchards, have in recent decades opted for intensive irrigated models that are vulnerable to water stress. Moreover, the spatial development of these productions, their cultivation methods and the major hydraulic works they require (up to and including dams) are transforming inherited soils and landscapes, and increasing water deficits at the level of river basins. Intensification thus contributes to global change, while increasing agricultural and regional vulnerability to it. Added to this is the recent spread along the Mediterranean coast of crops typical of tropical agroclimates, which benefit from the thermal potential of more southerly coastal plains, at the cost of considerable pressure on already scarce water resources.

It is therefore important to understand how Mediterranean agrarian systems are changing in the face of the climate crisis, not only to assess the impacts and contradictions, but also to discuss the underlying challenges of adaptation at the level of farms, land structures, agrosystems, rural territories and regions. For example, these intensification strategies are reflected in land strategies that call into question small family structures (the new players on the land market are highly endowed with capital).

The XIV FONCIMED Seminar is designed as a scientific and expert forum to promote reflection on the sustainability of land tenure systems in Mediterranean agriculture. It will provide an opportunity to share research work and experiences on the impacts and adaptation strategies of Mediterranean farming systems in the face of climate change, based on their plurality and their agro-ecological, socio-economic and cultural diversity. Particular emphasis is placed on the local knowledge and practices and collective resources used by farmers to adapt and sometimes mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. In terms of adaptation strategies, innovative approaches based on agricultural resilience and crop diversification, and the sustainable management of natural and land resources are of particular interest (water, soil and land, landscapes, but also agro-biodiversity, the conservation of agri-food heritage, and social innovation in terms of local food provisioning, etc.). Work is also expected on policies for adapting Mediterranean agrosystems at the various levels of intervention in Mediterranean territories, from European to regional or local.

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

• Abstracts in English or French of 500-700 words (Bibliography not included).

List of Topics

1. Adapting traditional agricultural practices to climate change: case studies in the Mediterranean climate.

• Traditional agricultural methods, techniques and production that are resilient to climate change.
• Traditional farming and forestry practices and systems in the face of the climate crisis.
• Modernization of traditional practices as a means of adapting to the climate crisis.

2. Sustainable water management in Mediterranean arboriculture: impacts, challenges and opportunities.

• Impacts of the intensification of practices on traditional farming systems. - Competition between traditional crops and tropical export crops.
• Analysis of water management strategies in a context of scarcity and climate variability.
• Evaluation of innovative technologies for water use efficiency and optimization of irrigation systems.

3. Impact of climate change on agro-biodiversity and the agricultural landscape.

• Traditional crops in the face of uncertain climatic conditions.
• Impact of landscape homogenization on territorial identity.
• Enhancing the value of traditional agricultural landscapes in the face of the climate crisis.

4. The role of alternative food networks in adapting to climate change: success stories and challenges.

• Local food provisioning, territorialized food systems and food sovereignty.
• Participatory networks and processes involving farming communities in adaptation decision-making.
• Bioregional experiences that strengthen the resilience of local farming communities.
• Identification of barriers and opportunities for effective large-scale implementation of agroecology.
• Gender and agroecology: strengthening equity and sustainability in food systems

Committees

Program Committee

• Mikael AKIMOWICZ, University of Toulouse III, France
• Theodosia ANTHOPOULOU, Pantheion University, Athens, Greece
• Tristan BERCHOUX – IAMM, Montpellier, France
• Juan JIMENEZ MILLAN - International University of Andalusia, Spain
• Aymen FRIJA, ICARDA, CGIAR, Tunisia
• Stavriani KOUTSOU – International Hellenic University, Greece
• Romain MELOT–INRAE, UMR BAGAP, Angers, France
• Claude NAPOLEONE – INRAE, UR Ecodevelopment, Avignon, France
• Mustapha JOUILI, INRAT, Tunis
• Derya NIZAM, University of Izmir, Türkiye
• Rafael Mata OLMO- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Jean Christophe PAOLI - INRAE, UMR LRDE-SELMET, Corte, France
• Coline PERRIN – INRAE, UMR Innovation, Montpellier, France
• Teresa PINTO-CORREIA, University of Evora, Portugal
• Athanassios RANGOS, ELGO-DEMETER, Greece
• Stefano TARGETTI, University of Bologna, Italy
• Carolina YACAMAN - OCHOA- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Gisèle VIANEY, CNRS-CITERES, Tours, France
• Aissam ZINE-DINE, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Morocco

Organizing committee

• Daniel FERRER JIMENEZ- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Inés GUTIERREZ BRISENO- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Mar Toharia TERAN- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Alvaro Daniel RODRIGUEZ ESCUDERO - Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Sergio TIRADO HERRERO- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Rafael Mata OLMO- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
• Carolina YACAMAN - OCHOA- Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain

Venue

The conference will be held in the International University of Andalusia (UNIA) in Baeza, Spain.

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to foncimed2024@gmail.com