Examples of CSA

The principles of CSA are very much context specific. This means that for every agricultural practice, every sector, and every farm there might be an individual climate-smart solution that might not be applicable elsewhere. Below are some specific examples of how CSA can be applied. While all practices aim at maintaining productivity, some are aimed at adapting to climate change, while others can help to mitigate the emission of GHGs.

Adaptation

Some of the current adaptation strategies in CSA involve the following measures:

• More seasonal flexibility in planting crops or breeding livestock
• More precise prediction of weather patterns to match actions to the weather
• Use of animal and plant breeds / strains / species that are more resilient to climatic changes
• Avoid heat stress in livestock
• Use of efficient irrigation systems like drip or sprinkle irrigation (in combination with soil-moisture monitoring equipment)
• Flood drainage
• Sustainable soil management to increase soil quality and resilience
• Desalination of soils in coastal areas that suffer from flooding
• Efficient water management

Mitigation

Mitigation of GHG emissions can be fostered through the implementation of some of the measures below:

• Reduce methane emission and feed efficiency in ruminants by changing their diet or feed additives
• Use fertilisers in a more targeted way to decrease nitrous oxide emissions
• Reduction of fertiliser use thanks to sustainable soil management
• Agroforestry and silvopastural techniques to increase carbon sequestration
• Perennial crop cover to increase carbon sequestration and crop rotation including legumes to increase nitrogen sequestration
• Use manure fermenters to gain methane as a source of energy
• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by saving energy or increasing efficiency (LED lights, efficient engines, efficient routes) throughout the whole value chain
• Efficient waste management

Some measures fit into both categories and could help to mitigate both the impact of agriculture on climate and adapt to climate change at the same time. For example, smart irrigation, manages limited water availability and at the same time prevents fertiliser leaching into the soil.

Can you share any further examples that would fit in with the principle of CSA? Share your thoughts in the comment area below.

References and further reading:

If you would like to find out more, you can read about other examples in this brochure created by the Worldbank.