Not only is the agricultural sector highly vulnerable to climate change, is it also one of the sectors most distorted and heavily influenced by a wide range of local, regional, national and international trade policies. The increased stress to the system brought about by climate change makes reform in global agricultural policies arguably even more important.

Agriculture is affected by climate change but also contributes to it. As a sector, agriculture must therefore  both adapt to changes and offers options for mitigation, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon. This study explores the mitigation and adaptation potential of organic agriculture. Based on a comprehensive review of scientific literature,  the authors conclude that organic agriculture may well serve as aquick win-win policy option to store carbon and reduce emissions.

 Climate change will cause a net drop in food production. This editorial argues that genetically modified (GM) crops have an important role to play in addressing the impending climate-related food crisis. The author asserts that GM crops can help to tackle the emerging food crisis in three ways:

There is a growing realisation that climate change will present a serious challenge for farmers – and that could mean big profits for companies that can help them adapt to environmental stress. This article examines the new generation of genetically modified (GM) crops which are emerging in response to a changing climate.
Points made include:

This paper assess Uruguay’s greenhouse gas emissions and economic performance, in addition to reviewing policies, plans and regulations which have resulted in land use changes and new forested areas with significant implications for climate change. The paper also explores programs that can result in both socioeconomic development and an increased ability to mitigate climate change.The author stresses that the real opportunities for mainstreaming responses to climate change in national planning lie within the context of sectoral, environmental and economic policies.

This, the summary report of a Royal Society discussion meeting on food crops in a changing climate, outlines new research that demonstrates that the impact of climate change on crop yields and quality will be more severe than previously thought. It highlights the need for research to improve the resolution and complexity of climate models and the consequent requirement for enhanced computer power.

Agriculture is a key sector providing economic and social development in Southeast Asian countries, where a majority of the region’s population depend on agricultural production as a main source of household income. The implication of global environmental change has extended the agricultural agenda to respond to the drivers of climate change—in the context where agriculture is both a contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a possible mitigating factor through the adjustment of practices and the adoption of new technologies.