What Strategies Would Sheep Farmers Implement to Adapt to Climate Change? A Cross-National Comparison of Sheep Farming Systems in the Mediterranean
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Date
2025-05-13
Authors
Martín Collado, DanielTenza Peral, Alicia
Casasús Pueyo, Isabel
Joy Torrens, Margalida
Stark, Fabien
Lurette, Amandine
Mohamed Brahmi, Aziza
Ameur, Mehrez
Aboulnaga, Adel
Elshafie, M.
Lobón Ascaso, Sandra
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Typology
texto , revista , artículo , artículo originalAbstract
Adapting livestock systems to climate change (CC) is essential for global food security and rural livelihoods. The Mediterranean region, a climate risk hotspot, hosts diverse livestock systems, including extensive meat sheep farming, where adaptation is critical to prevent economic and social decline. However, adaptation measures are often identified through top-down approaches that overlook local conditions and farmers' perspectives. This study conducted 216 face-to-face surveys with farmers across 11 meat sheep systems in Egypt, France, Spain, and Tunisia to examine their beliefs about CC, perceived farm impacts, and preferred adaptation strategies. Cluster analysis identified five main adaptation strategies: i) infrastructure improvement, ii) feed intensification, iii) feed optimization, iv) general farm adaptation, and v) flock management with feed intensification. These strategies were present across all countries and systems. Farmers widely recognize CC and its effects but do not always attribute it to human activity. Their primary concern is feed security, addressed through grazing, indoor feeding, or both, with increased feed purchases playing a central role. Conversely, breed substitution and reproductive management changes are rarely considered. The emphasis on farm infrastructure improvement and feed intensification suggests farmers prioritize buffering CC impacts by reducing reliance on local environmental conditions. This aligns with a ‘sustainable intensification’ approach, which presents socio-economic and environmental challenges, requiring greater technical support for farmers to implement effective adaptations.
Description
Keywords
Mitigation, decoupling, feeding management, intensification, small ruminants
Bibliographic citation
Martín-Collado, D., Tenza-Peral, A., Casasús, I., Joy, M., Stark, F., Lurette, A., Mohamed-Brahmi, A., Ameur, M., Aboulnaga, A., Elshafie, M., & Lobón, S. (2025). What Strategies Would Sheep Farmers Implement to Adapt to Climate Change? A Cross-National Comparison of Sheep Farming Systems in the Mediterranean (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 5253398). Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5253398
AGROVOC subjects
Cambio climáticoPequeño rumiante
Producción de carne
Ovino
Explotación ganadera
Entrevista
Sponsorship
La investigación que llevó a estos resultados fue financiada por la convocatoria PRIMA 2018 - Proyecto AdaptHerd (PRIMA 1811-2). El estudio realizado en España contó con el apoyo del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España (PCI2019-103533) y del Gobierno de Aragón (Fondos para Grupos de Investigación A25_23R y A26_23R).