Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Transformational adaptation: agriculture and climate change

L. Rickards A C and S. M. Howden B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne, Level 1, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 2010, Australia.

B Adaptive Primary Industries, Enterprises and Communities, Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, CSIRO, Canberra 2911, ACT, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: lauren.rickards@unimelb.edu.au

Crop and Pasture Science 63(3) 240-250 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP11172
Submitted: 6 July 2011  Accepted: 20 March 2012   Published: 28 May 2012

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2012 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Climate change presents the need and opportunity for what the Stern report called ‘major, non-marginal change’. Such transformational adaptation is rapidly emerging as a serious topic in agriculture. This paper provides an overview of the topic as it applies to agriculture, focusing on the Australian situation. It does so by first defining transformational adaptation, distinguishing it from other more incremental but overlapping modes of climate change adaptation and positing its emergence in agriculture as a response to both drivers and opportunities. The multiple dimensions of transformational adaptation are highlighted before two types or cases are focussed upon in order to tease out issues and highlight two major examples of transformation in agriculture in the past. Four key issues about climate change adaptation in agriculture particularly pertinent for transformational adaptation are then reviewed: the identification, level, distribution and management of the costs of adaptation; the definition, potential for and need to avoid maladaptation; the capacity demands that this level of adaptation presents; and the role of government in adaptation. Overall, transformational adaptation poses potential great gains but also great risks. It reinforces the realisation that agricultural research can no longer remain insulated from off-farm, non-science or non-agricultural knowledge or processes. Support and guidance of transformational adaptation requires that we understand how Australian agriculture is currently, and could be, positioned within the landscape, rural communities, and broader social, political and cultural environment.

Additional keywords: adaptation, agriculture, climate change, transformation.


References

Adger WN, Arnell NW, Tompkins EL (2005) Successful adaptation to climate change across scales. Global Environmental Change 15, 77–86.
Successful adaptation to climate change across scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Alexandra J, Riddington C (2007) Redreaming the rural landscape. Futures 39, 324–339.
Redreaming the rural landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Allison HE, Hobbs RJ (2004) Resilience, adaptive capacity, and the ‘Lock-in trap’ of the Western Australian agricultural region. Ecology and Society 9. Available at: www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss1/art3 (accessed 30 March 2012)

Anderies J, Ryan P, Walker P (2006) Loss of resilience, crisis and institutional change: lessons from an intensive agricultural system in southeastern Australia. Ecosystems 9, 865–878.
Loss of resilience, crisis and institutional change: lessons from an intensive agricultural system in southeastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Anderson K (2003) White natures: Sydney’s Royal Agricultural Show in post-humanist perspective. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 28, 422–441.
White natures: Sydney’s Royal Agricultural Show in post-humanist perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ayers J, Huq S (2009) The value of linking mitigation and adaptation: a case study of Bangladesh. Environmental Management 43, 753–764.
The value of linking mitigation and adaptation: a case study of Bangladesh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bailey I, Wilson GA (2009) Theorising transitional pathways in response to climate change: technocentrism, ecocentrism, and the carbon economy. Environment & Planning A 41, 2324–2341.
Theorising transitional pathways in response to climate change: technocentrism, ecocentrism, and the carbon economy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barnett J, O’Neill S (2010) Maladaptation. Global Environmental Change 20, 211–213.
Maladaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Barr N (2009) ‘The house on the hill: the transformation of Australia’s farming communities.’ (Land and Water Australia and Halstead Press: Canberra)

Bebbington J, Asaduzzaman M, Fernandez A, Clark M, Guillou M, Jahn M, Erda L, Mamo T, Van Bo N, Nobre CA, Scholes RJ, Sharma R, Wakhungu J (2011) Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: summary for policy makers from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Copenhagen, Denmark. Available at: www.ccafs.cgiar.org/commission (accessed 30 March 2012)

Beck U (2006) Living in the world risk society. Economy and Society 35, 329–345.
Living in the world risk society.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Black R, Kniveton D, Schmidt-Verkerk K (2011) Migration and climate change: towards an integrated assessment of sensitivity. Environment & Planning A 43, 431–450.
Migration and climate change: towards an integrated assessment of sensitivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Botterill LC (2003) Uncertain climate: the recent history of drought policy in Australia. The Australian Journal of Politics and History 49, 61–74.
Uncertain climate: the recent history of drought policy in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brussaard L, Caron P, Campbell B, Lipper L, Mainka S, Rabbinge R, Babin D, Pulleman M (2010) Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security: scientific challenges for a new agriculture. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2, 34–42.
Reconciling biodiversity conservation and food security: scientific challenges for a new agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Burton RJF, Paragahawewa UH (2011) Creating culturally sustainable agri-environmental schemes. Journal of Rural Studies 27, 95–104.
Creating culturally sustainable agri-environmental schemes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell A (2008) ‘Paddock to plate: food, farming and Victoria’s progress to sustainability. ACF’s Future Food & Farm Project.’ (Australian Conservation Foundation: Melbourne)

Cocklin C, Dibden J, Mautner N (2006) From market to multifunctionality? Land stewardship in Australia. The Geographical Journal 172, 197–205.
From market to multifunctionality? Land stewardship in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Collins K, Ison R (2009a) Jumping off Arnstein’s ladder: social learning as a new policy paradigm for climate change adaptation. Environmental Policy & Governance 19, 358–373.
Jumping off Arnstein’s ladder: social learning as a new policy paradigm for climate change adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Collins K, Ison R (2009b) Living with environmental change: adaptation as social learning. Environmental Policy and Governance 19, 351–357.
Living with environmental change: adaptation as social learning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cork S (2010a) ‘Resilience and transformation: preparing Australia for uncertain futures.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Cork S (Ed.) (2010b) Resilience of social-ecological systems. In ‘Resilience and transformation: preparing Australia for uncertain futures’. pp. 131–142. (Australia 21 and CSIRO: Melbourne)

Cork S, Eckersley R, Walker B (2010) ‘Rapid and surprising change in Australia’s future: anticipating and preparing for future challenges and opportunities on the way to a sustainable Australia.’ (Australia 21: Canberra). www.australia21.org.au/oldsite/pdf/Tipping2007.pdf

Costanza R (2001) Visions, values, valuation, and the need for an ecological economics. Bioscience 51, 459–468.
Visions, values, valuation, and the need for an ecological economics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cribb J (2010) ‘The coming famine: the global food crisis and what we can do to avoid it.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Davies S (2009) Are coping strategies a cop out? In ‘The Earthscan Reader on adaptation to climate change’. (Eds ELF Schipper, I Burton) pp. 99–116. (Earthscan: London)

Dolata U (2009) Transformative capacity, adaptability, patterns of change: an analytical framework. Research Policy 38, 1066–1076.
Transformative capacity, adaptability, patterns of change: an analytical framework.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Easterling WE, Aggarwal PK, Batima P, Brander K, Erda L, Howden SM, Kirilenko A, Morton J, Soussana JF, Schmidhuber J, Tubiello FN (2007) Food, fibre and forest products. Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. In ‘Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. (Eds ML Parry, OF Canziani, JP Palutikof, PJ van der Linden, CE Hanson) pp. 273–313. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Eriksen S, Brown K (2011) Sustainable adaptation to climate change. Climate and Development 3, 3–6.
Sustainable adaptation to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Eriksen S, Aldunce P, Bahinipati CS, Martins RD, Molefe JI, Nhemachena C, O’Brien K, Olorunfemi F, Park J, Sygna L, Ulsrud K (2011) When not every response to climate change is a good one: identifying principles for sustainable adaptation. Climate and Development 3, 7–20.
When not every response to climate change is a good one: identifying principles for sustainable adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fankhauser S (2010) The costs of adaptation. WIREs Climate Change 1, 23–30.
The costs of adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fedoroff NV, Battisti DS, Beachy RN, Cooper PJM, Fischhoff DA, Hodges CN, Knauf VC, Lobell D, Mazur BJ, Molden D, Reynolds MP, Ronald PC, Rosegrant MW, Sanchez PA, Vonshak A, Zhu JK (2010) Radically rethinking agriculture for the 21st Century. Science 327, 833–834.
Radically rethinking agriculture for the 21st Century.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhslWjurk%3D&md5=816db95b26b515361e6ec28a1d68e81bCAS |

Ferrell AK (2011) Doing masculinity: gendered challenges to replacing burley tobacco in central Kentucky. Agriculture and Human Values
Doing masculinity: gendered challenges to replacing burley tobacco in central Kentucky.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | in press.

Ford JD, Keskitalo ECH, Smith T, Pearce T, Berrang-Ford L, Duerden F, Smit B (2010) Case study and analogue methodologies in climate change vulnerability research. WIREs Climate Change 1, 19

Fresco LO (2009) Challenges for food system adaptation today and tomorrow. Environmental Science & Policy 12, 378–385.
Challenges for food system adaptation today and tomorrow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Geels FW, Schot J (2007) Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways. Research Policy 36, 399–417.
Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gelcich S, Hughes TP, Olsson P, Folke C, Defeo O, Fernandez M, Foal S, Gunderson LH, Gundersong LH, Rodríguez-Sickert C, Scheffer M, Steneck RS, Castilla JC (2010) Navigating transformations in governance of Chilean marine coastal resources. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107, 16794–16799.
Navigating transformations in governance of Chilean marine coastal resources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXht1OitL3N&md5=7290c4987a72c82b8b9826b677f6f4c6CAS |

Gibson K, Cahill A, McKay D (2010) Rethinking the dynamics of rural transformation: performing different development pathways in a Philippine municipality. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 35, 237–255.
Rethinking the dynamics of rural transformation: performing different development pathways in a Philippine municipality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gooch M, Rigano D (2010) Enhancing community-scale social resilience: what is the connection between healthy communities and healthy waterways? The Australian Geographer 41, 507–520.
Enhancing community-scale social resilience: what is the connection between healthy communities and healthy waterways?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Green K, Harvey M, McMeekin A (2003) Transformations in food consumption and production systems. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 5, 145–163.
Transformations in food consumption and production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Greenhill J, King D, Lane A, MacDougall C (2009) Understanding resilience in South Australian farm families. Rural Society 19, 318–325.
Understanding resilience in South Australian farm families.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hallegatte S (2009) Strategies to adapt to an uncertain climate change. Global Environmental Change 19, 240–247.
Strategies to adapt to an uncertain climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Handmer J, Dovers S (1996) A typology of resilience: rethinking institutions for sustainable development. Organization & Environment 9, 482–511.
A typology of resilience: rethinking institutions for sustainable development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Horlings LG, Marsden TK (2011) Towards the real green revolution? Exploring the conceptual dimensions of a new ecological modernisation of agriculture that could ‘feed the world’. Global Environmental Change 21, 441–452.
Towards the real green revolution? Exploring the conceptual dimensions of a new ecological modernisation of agriculture that could ‘feed the world’.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Howden SM, Stokes CJ (2009) Introduction. In ‘Adapting agriculture to climate change: preparing Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the future’. (Eds CJ Stokes, SM Howden) pp. 1–12. (CSIRO: Melbourne)

Howden SM, Soussana JF, Tubiello FN, Chhetri N, Dunlop M, Meinke H (2007) Adapting agriculture to climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 19691–19696.
Adapting agriculture to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitFSltg%3D%3D&md5=00fb9f1d8e622a469270ec9de2bf6b90CAS |

Howden SM, Crimp SJ, Stokes CJ (2008) Climate change and Australian livestock systems: impacts, research and policy issues. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 780–788.
Climate change and Australian livestock systems: impacts, research and policy issues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Howden SM, Crimp S, Nelson RN (2010) Australian agriculture in a climate of change. In ‘Managing Climate Change: Papers from GREENHOUSE 2009 Conference’. (Eds I Jubb, P Holper, W Cai) pp. 101–112. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Hulme M, Pielke R, Dessai S (2009) Keeping prediction in perspective. Nature 3, 2

Inayatullah S (2008) Six pillars: futures thinking for transforming. Foresight 10, 4–21.
Six pillars: futures thinking for transforming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Inderberg TH, Eikeland PO (2009) Limits to adaptation: analysing institutional constraints. In ‘Adapting to climate: thresholds, values and governance’. (Eds W Adger, I Lorenzonin, K O’Brien) pp. 433–447. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Ison R (2010) ‘Systems practice: how to act in a climate change world.’ (The Open University and Springer: London)

Jones R (1969) Fire-stick farming. Australian Natural History 16, 224

Jones R (2010) The use of scenarios in adaption planning: managing risks in simple to complex settings. Report for the Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research. Scenarios for Climate Adaptation Program. Available at: www.vcccar.org.au/files/vcccar/Jones%20scenarios%20presentation%2011-11-10.pdf

Kandlikar M, Risbey J (2000) Agricultural impacts of climate change: if adaptation is the answer, what is the question? Climatic Change 45, 529–539.
Agricultural impacts of climate change: if adaptation is the answer, what is the question?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

King D, Lane A, MacDougall C, Greenhill J (2009) The resilience and mental health and wellbeing of farm families experiencing climate variation in South Australia. Report for the National Institute of Labour Studies Incorporated, Adelaide, Australia.

Kwadijk JCJ, Haasnoot M, Mulder JPM, Hoogvliet MMC, Jeuken ABM, van der Krogt RAA, van Oostrom NGC, Schelfhout HA, van Velzen EH, van Waveren H, de Wit MJM (2010) Using adaptation tipping points to prepare for climate change and sea level rise: a case study in the Netherlands. WIRES Climate Change 1, 729–740.
Using adaptation tipping points to prepare for climate change and sea level rise: a case study in the Netherlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leggewie C, Welzer H (2010) Another ‘great transformation’? Social and cultural consequences of climate change. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 2, 031009
Another ‘great transformation’? Social and cultural consequences of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leichenko RM, O’Brien KL (2008) ‘Environmental change and globalization: double exposures.’ (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK)

Lobao L, Meyer K (2001) The great agricultural transition: crisis, change, and social consequences of Twentieth Century US farming. Annual Review of Sociology 27, 103–124.
The great agricultural transition: crisis, change, and social consequences of Twentieth Century US farming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall NA (2010) Understanding social resilience to climate variability in primary enterprises and industries. Global Environmental Change 20, 36–43.
Understanding social resilience to climate variability in primary enterprises and industries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martin P, Williams J (2011) Renegotiating farmers’ social licence. In ‘Defending the social licence of farming: issues, challenges and new directions for agriculture’. (Eds J Williams, P Martin) pp. 195–202. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

McKeon GM Howden SM Abel NOJ King JM 1993 Climate change: adapting tropical and subtropical grasslands. In ‘Grasslands for our world’. (Ed. MJ Baker) pp. 426–435. (SIR Publishing: Wellington, New Zealand)

McKeon G, Hall W, Henry B, Stone G, Watson I (Eds) (2004) ‘Pasture degradation and recovery in Australia’s Rangelands: learning from history.’ (Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy: Brisbane)

McLeman RA, Hunter LM (2010) Migration in the context of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: insights from analogues. WIRES Climate Change 1, 450–462.

McNeall D, Halloran PR, Good P, Betts RA (2011) Analyzing abrupt and nonlinear climate changes and their impacts. WIRES Climate Change 2, 663–686.
Analyzing abrupt and nonlinear climate changes and their impacts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Meert H, van Huylenbroeck G, Vernimmen T, Bourgeois M, van Hecke E (2005) Farm household survival strategies and diversification on marginal farms. Journal of Rural Studies 21, 81–97.
Farm household survival strategies and diversification on marginal farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moser SC, Ekstrom JA (2010) A framework to diagnose barriers to climate change adaptation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107, 22026–22031.
A framework to diagnose barriers to climate change adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXntVOg&md5=2a62560b9248506ee390bfdc313f6fbfCAS |

Nelson GC (2009) Agriculture and Climate Change: An Agenda for Negotiation in Copenhagen, 2020 Vision for Food. Agriculture and the Environment, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.

Nelson R, Howden M, Smith MS (2008) Using adaptive governance to rethink the way science supports Australian drought policy. Environmental Science & Policy 11, 588–601.

Nelson R, Kokic P, Crimp S, Martin P, Meinke H, Howden M (2010a) The vulnerability of Australian agriculture to climate variability & change: Part I – reconciling the supply and demand for integrated assessments. Environmental Science & Policy 13, 8–17.
The vulnerability of Australian agriculture to climate variability & change: Part I – reconciling the supply and demand for integrated assessments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nelson R, Kokic P, Crimp S, Martin P, Meinke H, Howden M, Devoil P, McKeon G, Nidumolu U (2010b) The vulnerability of Australian agriculture to climate variability & change: Part II – vulnerability assessments that support adaptation. Environmental Science & Policy 13, 18–27.
The vulnerability of Australian agriculture to climate variability & change: Part II – vulnerability assessments that support adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nelson R, Byron N, Stafford Smith M (2011) Towards economic and policy analysis of adaptation to climate change. In ‘Paper presented at the Australian Economics Society Annual Conference’. 11–14 July, Canberra, ACT. Available at: http://publicpolicy.anu.edu.au/coombs/workshops/climate_change_adaptation_in_australia/Adaptation%20-%20towards%20eco%20&%20policy%20analysis.pdf

New M, Liverman D, Schroder H, Anderson K (2011) Four degrees and beyond: the potential for a global temperature increase of four degrees and its implications. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A 369, 6–19.
Four degrees and beyond: the potential for a global temperature increase of four degrees and its implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

O’Brien K (2011) Global environmental change II: from adaptation to deliberate transformation. Progress in Human Geography
Global environmental change II: from adaptation to deliberate transformation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | in press.

O’Brien KL, Wolf J (2010) A values-based approach to vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. WIRES Climate Change 1, 232–243.

O’Brien K, Hayward B, Berkes F (2009) Rethinking social contracts: building resilience in a changing climate. Ecology and Society 14. Available at: www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art12/

Orlove B (2009) The past, the present and some possible futures of adaptation. In ‘Adapting to climate change: thresholds, values, governance’. (Eds WN Adger, I Lorenzoni, K O’Brien) pp. 131–163. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Pannell DJ (2010) Policy for climate change adaptation in agriculture. In ‘Paper presented at the 54th Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society’. Adelaide, 10–12 February 2010.

Pannell DJ, Marshall G, Barr N, Curtis A, Vanclay F, Wilkinson R (2006) Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 1407–1424.
Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Park SE, Marshall NA, Jakku E, Dowd AM, Howden SM, Mendham E, Fleming A (2012) Informing adaptation responses to climate change through theories of transformation. Global Environmental Change 22, 115–126.
Informing adaptation responses to climate change through theories of transformation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parry ML Canziani OF Palutikof JP van der Linden PJ Hanson CE 2007 Climatic change: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge, UK.

Pelling M (2011) ‘Adaptation to climate change: from resilience to transformation.’ (Routledge: London)

PHAA (2009) ‘A future for food: addressing public health, sustainability and equity from paddock to plate.’ (Public Health Association of Australia: Canberra) www.phaa.net.au/documents/PHAA%20Report.pdf

Pittock J (2009) Lessons for climate change adaptation from better management of rivers. Climate and Development 1, 194–211.
Lessons for climate change adaptation from better management of rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

PMSEIC (2010) ‘Australia and food security in a changing world.’ (The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council: Canberra)

Potter C, Tilzey M (2005) Agricultural policy discourses in the European post-Fordist transition: neoliberalism, neomercantilism and multifunctionality. Progress in Human Geography 29, 581–600.
Agricultural policy discourses in the European post-Fordist transition: neoliberalism, neomercantilism and multifunctionality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rahmstorf S, Cazenave A, Church JA, Hansen JE, Keeling RF, Parker DE, Somerville RCJ (2007) Recent climate observations compared to projections. Science 316, 709
Recent climate observations compared to projections.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXkvVWrsL4%3D&md5=f80f84bdb5151992451594511adccb82CAS |

Rickards L (2006) Capable, enlightened and masculine: constructing English agriculturalist ideals in formal agricultural education, 1845–2003. PhD Thesis, School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford, UK.

Rickards L (2012) Critical breaking point? The effects of climate variability and other pressures on farm households. Final Report for the Birchip Cropping Group, Birchip, Australia. Available at: www.bcg.org.au/cb_pages/Social_and_Comm_Dev.php

Robinson GM (2009) Towards sustainable agriculture: current debates. Geography Compass 3, 1757–1773.
Towards sustainable agriculture: current debates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Russill C, Nyssa Z (2009) The tipping point trend in climate change communication. Global Environmental Change 19, 336–344.
The tipping point trend in climate change communication.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Simpson S, Dargusch P (2010) Classifying public benefit in Australian agricultural research. Australasian Agribusiness Review 18, 13

Smit B, McNabb D, Smithers J (1996) Agricultural adaptation to climatic variation. Climatic Change 33, 7–29.
Agricultural adaptation to climatic variation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XksFyqt7w%3D&md5=ce58bc23c9d306c9f199ef8a095e48c7CAS |

Sounness C (2011) Five big questions: assisting broadacre agriculture to face the need for transformational change. In ‘Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries Conference’. Feburary 2011, Melbourne. Available at: www.theccrspiconference.com.au/viewStory/Presentations

Stafford Smith M, Horrocks L, Harvey A, Hamilton C (2011) Rethinking adaptation for a 4°C world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A 369, 196–216.

Stern N (2007) ‘Stern Review: the economics of climate change.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Stokes CJ, Howden SM (Eds) (2010) ‘Adapting agriculture to climate change: preparing Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the future.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Tarnoczi T (2011) Transformative learning and adaptation to climate change in the Canadian Prairie agro-ecosystem. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 16, 387–406.
Transformative learning and adaptation to climate change in the Canadian Prairie agro-ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

UNDP (2009) A climate risk management approach to disaster reduction and adaptation to climate change. In ‘The Earthscan Reader on adaptation to climate change’. (Eds ELF Schipper, I Burton) pp. 229–248. (Earthscan: London)

Walker B, Salt D (2006) ‘Resilience thinking: sustaining ecosystems and people in a changing world.’ (Island Press: New York)

Walker B, Abel N, Anderies J, Ryan P (2009) Resilience, adaptability and transformability in the Goulburn-Broken catchment, Australia. Ecology & Society 14, No. 12

WGBU (2011) World in transition: a social contract for sustainability. Report by the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WGBU), Berlin.

Wilby RL, Dessai S (2010) Robust adaptation to climate change. Weather 65, 180–185.
Robust adaptation to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilson G (2007) ‘Multifunctional agriculture: a transition theory perspective.’ (CABI: Wallingford, UK)

Wilson GA (2008) From ‘weak’ to ‘strong’ multifunctionality: conceptualising farm-level multifunctional transitional pathways. Journal of Rural Studies 24, 367–383.
From ‘weak’ to ‘strong’ multifunctionality: conceptualising farm-level multifunctional transitional pathways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zaalberg R, Midden C, Meijnders A, McCalley T (2009) Prevention, adaptation, and threat denial: flooding experiences in the Netherlands. Risk Analysis 29, 1759–1778.
Prevention, adaptation, and threat denial: flooding experiences in the Netherlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |