Overview: NIFA Agriculture Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area.

The goal of this Change Challenge Area is to advance the understanding and application of climate science for sustainable management of agriculture, forestry, natural resources, and the environment. Emphasis is placed on the development of sustainable strategies for adaptation of agroecosystems to climate variability and change and development of sustainable mitigation practices that reduce the negative impact of greenhouse gases from these natural and production systems. The Challenge Area also strongly emphasizes advancement in climate science education and extension.

 To meet these needs, the long-term outcomes for this program are to develop new varieties of plants and animals, and identify new strategies for agriculture and forest production systems for adaptation to climate variability and change; advance sustainable use of natural resources and support sustainable rural economies under variable and changing climates; reduce the use of energy, nitrogen fertilizer, and water; and increase carbon sequestration through resilient agriculture and forest production systems by 2030.  Specifically, the challenge area focuses on:

1. Adaptation – Maximize resiliency and reduce the impact of climate on the stability and productivity of agriculture and forest agroecosystems under changing climates by providing producers and decision makers with new and sustainable management methods and technologies.
2. Mitigation – Reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural and forestry production systems and maximize carbon sequestration potential in agriculture and forest working lands by providing producers and decision makers with new and sustainable management methods and technologies.  
3. Climate Science Education and Extension – Increase the number of agriculture scientists, educators and extension professionals in the workforce with skills and knowledge to address climate related issues.