Adapting agriculture and pesticide use in Mediterranean regions under climate change scenarios: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Climate change (CC), a long-term change in the average weather patterns that determine the Earth's climate, has a large and significant impact on agricultural systems, especially in Mediterranean climate regions (MCRs), which are characterized by mild and wet winters and warm and dry summers with increased drought and high temperature events, water deficits, and changes in precipitation patterns. Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from anthropogenic activities have increased by an average of almost 1.5 % per year since 1990 reaching a level of 53.8 Gt CO₂-eq in 2022. CC can also significantly influence the timing and methods of pesticide application through changes in pest and disease occurrence and alterations in crop characteristics in these regions. Global pesticide consumption in agriculture worldwide in 2021 was 3.54 Mt of active ingredients, an increase of 11 % in a decade and a doubling since 1990. In this study, the main variables affecting agriculture and pesticide use under CC in MCRs were assessed. It is important to note that the challenges related to the impact of CC on agricultural practices and the necessary adaptation measures to be implemented are influenced not only by climatic factors but also by other variables, such as soil type and agroclimatic zone. The data used for this review were obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database from the beginning of the century to the present (2001–2023). Our findings show that finance, technology and international cooperation are the key enablers of accelerated climate action. Achieving deep and lasting reductions in GHG emissions and securing a livable and sustainable future for all people will require rapid and deep transformations across all sectors and systems. CC has large negative impacts on the agricultural sector, such as reduced crop quantity and quality due to temperature increases, water scarcity and other negative environmental impacts. In addition, the use of pesticides and their environmental fate may be significantly affected by CC. Therefore, agricultural adaptation should be a priority in MCRs to improve crop performance and resilience to environmental pressures caused by CC. These changes may affect the behavior and fate of pesticides in soil and water, potentially leading to environmental pollution and negative impacts on human and ecosystem health. The local climate will clearly determine which areas are suitable for growing certain crops, potentially leading to changes in agricultural practices and pest management strategies. All these findings highlight the complex and multifaceted relationships among CC, agriculture and pesticide use and emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to address the challenges posed by changing environmental conditions on agricultural practices and pest management in MCRs.