„ „Plant Production and Environment“ WorkshopWorkshop A

Task: How do the plant production and horticulture increase a growing risk of climate changes (for example global warming; glasshouse effect; increase of drought; soil erosion; water, soil and air pollution etc.)?

AUSTRIA  Increasing usage of pesticides could have an impact on soil pollution.  One crop agriculture could also have bad effects on the soil.  All harvesting machines are producer of carbon dioxyd.  Water could be polluted by pesticides used in horticulture.  Insects (bees) could be extinguished by certain pesticides

Luxemburg  Due to the high Mais-Silage production for Dairy Cows  Rising number of „Biogaz –Stations“ in Luxembourg,  Soil-erosion,  Nitrification of underground Water become populare

SLOVAKIA  Faster melting of icecapes metres per year Sea level rise  Unbearable droughts, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornados, hailstorms  Extermination of many plant and animal species  Impact on forests and other eco-systems  Restrictions of drinking water supplies  Impact on health care of people  Bad harvest and famine  Impact on agricultural production: Annual instability of climate – is risky factor in agriculture, it causes bad harvest and instability near production of agricultural crops

Spain Big impact in Agriculture / environment becuase of: - Increase Temperature - Less rainfalls in some areas (droughts) - More frequent extreme conditions: drought-floods - Water scarcity - Soil erosion - Desertification

POLAND  Droughts, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornados, hailstorms makes bad harvest.  Lack of water

Task: What are the options in plant production, horticulture and forestry in order to prevent and eliminate above mentioned problems? Austria:  Organic farming could be one step to prevent above mentioned problems.  New evironment friendly machines (tractors, harvesters) could be used to prevent these problems  To cope with projected climate changes; farmers can change their crop rotation to make the best use of available water.  They can use crop varieties better suited to new weather conditions  Planting hedgerows to reduce erosion and water run-off and act as wind breaker

Luxemburg  Strip-till seed  Covering soil over the winter with special plants to keep nitrogen in the soil  Search of alternative Energy-plants to reduce monoculture of Maize  Special Subsidies for Biogas-stations who use just a minimum of Mais-silage

SLOVAKIA  crops changing  change time of sowing according to temperatures and rainfall  plant hedges and small woods on agricultural soil  drip irrigation  farmers system information about climate risks and solutions  Insurance programs for farmers- aid to cope with corps losses, which were caused by climate changes  offer of financial grants for farmers

Spain To develop a new model of agriculture: -More efficient in terms of inputs (energy) consumption, so less impact in environment -Focused to satisfy local needs principally : food security

POLAND  farmers system information about climate risks and solutions  Insurance programs for farmers- aid to cope with corps losses, which were caused by climate changes

Task: How is the government and agricultural production dealing with these problems in your country?Austria:  No genetic manipulated soy for animal production.  Less pesticides should be allowed to use.  Pesticide-Law: integrated Plant-Production (EU-Guideline 2009  There are meetings in different parts of the counrty, where you can hear the latest news about these topics like: „to produce heat from wood or electricity from the sun“  There are information meetings about: pellets and wood chip-fire, solar power systems or Photovoltaik  It is lucrative because of state funding

Luxemburg Government has special programmes Special subsidies, nutrifiction of underground water

SLOVAKIA 1. decrease of own gas emissions - transformation of animal trash to biogas in biogas stations, where biogas is transformed into heat and electricity 2. better abilities of agricultural soil to sequestrate carbon from atmosphere via special agricultural procedures e.g. organic agriculture, afforestration 3. Contribute to production of renewable energies and bio-products Bio-energy made from agricultural biomass replaces noxious sources of energy e.g. fossil fuels – which produce great amount of emissions

POLAND  Pesticide-Law: integrated Plant-Production (EU- Guideline 2009  There are meetings in different parts of the counrty, where you can hear the latest news about these topics like: „to produce heat from wood or electricity from the sun“  There are information meetings about: pellets and wood chip-fire, solar power systems or Photovoltaik

How can the plant production, horticulture and forestry help to mitigate growing climate changes? Give examples of such measurements. More forest should be planted. Increasing organic farming could be another step to prevent servere climate changes. Plants should be grown in winter (Winterbegrünung) Big green areas in cities could be useful In greenhouses the optimum climatic regulation as well as the application of beneficial insects have particular importance Insulation and reduction of heat losses and the application of technologies to produce renewable energy Optimize the water management (for example rainwater collection basin)

SLOVAKIA crops changing change time of sowing according to temperatures and rainfall plant hedges and small woods on agricultural soil drip irrigation farmers system information about climate risks and solutions Insurance programs for farmers- aid to cope with corps losses, which were caused by climate changes offer of financial grants for farmers

Spain  New techniques of farming more sustainable from environmental and social point of view and even economic.  No-till  Biologic fight against pests  Drop irrigation  Fertilizer balance : register book  New sprayers to apply pesticides more efficient  Varieties adapted to the new climate is coming  Changing location for planting orchards / vegetables  ……..

Taks: Do the climate changes and worsened quality of environment impact the plant production, horticulture and forestry? Is the quality of agricultural products being impacted in your country? If so, how? How do the farmers deal with these challenges? CONCUSIONS: We dont´t know much about a significant change of the quality of products because of climate change. However different plants can be grown in Austria because of global warming, other plants were extinguished (South towards North) The risk of damages cause of weather conditions is increasing. The insurances (hail insurances) also