The  cultivation  of  crops,  their  productivity  and   quality,  are  directly  dependent  on  different  climatic   factors.  Climate  change  is  already  having  an  impact   on  agriculture  (Peltonen-­‐‑Sainio  et  al.,  2010;  Olesen   et  al.,  2011),  and  has  been  attributed  as  one  of  the   factors  contributing  to  stagnation  in  wheat  yields   in  parts  of  Europe  despite  continued  progress  in   crop  breeding  (Brisson  et  al.,  2010).  Climate  change   is  expected  to  continue  to  affect  agriculture  in  the   future  (Olesen  et  al.,  2011),  and  the  effects  will  vary   greatly  in  space  across  Europe  (Trnka,  Olesen,  et  al.,   2011),  but  they  may  also  change  over  time  (Trnka,   Eitzinger,  et  al.,  2011).  It  is  generally  accepted  that   productivity  will  increase  in  northern  Europe  due   to  a  lengthened  growing  season  and  an  extension   of  the  frost-­‐‑free  period  (Olesen  and  Bindi,  2002).   In  southern  Europe,  climate  change  is  likely  to   negatively  affect  the  productivity  of  crops  and   their  suitability  in  certain  regions  primarily  due   to  extreme  heat  events  and  an  overall  expected   reduction  in  precipitation  and  water  availability   (Iglesias  et  al.,  2010).  Year-­‐‑to-­‐‑year  variability  in   yields  is  generally  expected  to  increase  throughout   Europe,  due  to  extreme  climatic  events  and  other   factors,  including  pests  and  diseases  (Ferrise  et  al.,   2011;  Kristensen  et  al.,  2011).

OLESEN Jorgen E.;  NIEMEYER Stefan;  IGLESIAS Ana;  FUESSEL Hans-Martin; 

2013-05-03

EEA

JRC78807

978-92-9213-346-7,   

1725-9177,   

http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/publications/climate-impacts-and-vulnerability-2012/,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC78807,   

10.2800/66071,