71% of farmers say that climate change is already having a significant impact on their farms, and even more are concerned about the impact this will have in the future. 73% have experienced increased pressure from pests and diseases. On average, farmers estimate that their incomes have decreased by 15.7% due to climate change over the past two years. One in six farmers reports income losses greater than 25% during this period.
These are some of the key findings from the ‘Farmer Voice’ survey, which reveals the challenges faced by farmers around the world as they try to mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to the future. To conduct the ‘Farmer Voice’, the life sciences company Bayer commissioned an agency to conduct independent interviews with 800 farmers globally, representing large and small farms from Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine, and the United States in equal numbers.
Farmers are Taking Action to Mitigate Climate Change
More than 80% of the farmers surveyed are already taking or planning to take steps to directly implement actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The main areas of focus are the use of cover crops (43% are already doing this or plan to do so), the use of renewable energy or biofuels (37%), and the use of innovative seeds to reduce fertilizer or crop protection use (33%). Additionally, every farmer states they are already implementing or plan to implement measures to support biodiversity. More than half (54%) say they are already applying measures to protect insects, such as insect hotels, or plan to do so in the next three years.
To prepare for the future, farmers value innovation. More than half (53%) say that access to seeds and traits designed to better cope with extreme weather conditions would benefit their farms the most. A similar number (50%) requested better crop protection technology. 42% said that better access to irrigation technology would benefit their farms. When analyzing their practices, improving efficient land use, diversifying crops, and enhancing soil health were ranked as the top pathways to success.