IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i7p1388-d1692686.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Farm Vulnerability to Climate Change in Southern France

Author

Listed:
  • Abderraouf Zaatra

    (CIHEAM-IAMM, Univ Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
    University of Montpellier, 34960 Montpellier, France)

  • Mélanie Requier-Desjardins

    (CIHEAM-IAMM, Univ Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
    SENS, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Univ Paul Valery Montpellier 3, 34960 Montpellier, France)

  • Hélène Rey-Valette

    (University of Montpellier, 34960 Montpellier, France
    CEE-M, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 34960 Montpellier, France)

  • Thierry Blayac

    (University of Montpellier, 34960 Montpellier, France
    CEE-M, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, 34960 Montpellier, France)

  • Hatem Belhouchette

    (CIHEAM-IAMM, Univ Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
    ABSys, Univ Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, 34090 Montpellier, France)

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is a major threat to agriculture, the sector that supports the territorial economy in the Pays Haut Languedoc et Vignoble (PHLV) region (south France). In this region, farms have been facing the negative effects of CC for several decades. The implementation of agriculture adaptation policies requires a coherent and integrated tool that mobilizes approaches for territorial development, vulnerability assessments, and feasibility. The purpose of this research is to provide a multi-criteria assessment of farm vulnerability to CC in the PHLV region. An index of farm vulnerability was developed based on the classic model of vulnerability, which is the product of exposure and sensitivity divided by adaptive capacity. This assessment was conducted at the farm level, by combining biophysical variables (such as soil type and irrigation) and socioeconomic variables (such as agricultural experience and crop insurance), selected based on a literature review and interviews with local stakeholders and local experts. To solve the weighting problem, we differentiated between a “calculated vulnerability”, without any specific weighting of the vulnerability variables, and a “declared vulnerability” that integrates the scores assigned to the importance of each variable for each farmer surveyed, based on their awareness. Afterward, a discriminant analysis was used to identify the factors that determine the vulnerability classes. Our results show that (i) the majority of the surveyed farms have a relatively high vulnerability index, but wine farms and cereal farms are the most vulnerable; (ii) for all farms the “declared vulnerability” is lower than the “calculated vulnerability”, showing that farmers underestimate their vulnerability; (iii) there is an interesting link between the low level of vulnerability and the adaptation efforts already made over the past ten years by certain farms that have changed or introduced crops and improved their agricultural practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Abderraouf Zaatra & Mélanie Requier-Desjardins & Hélène Rey-Valette & Thierry Blayac & Hatem Belhouchette, 2025. "Assessment of Farm Vulnerability to Climate Change in Southern France," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:7:p:1388-:d:1692686
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1388/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1388/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Skoufias, Emmanuel, 2003. "Economic Crises and Natural Disasters: Coping Strategies and Policy Implications," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 1087-1102, July.
    2. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966.
    3. W. Adger & P. Kelly, 1999. "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change and the Architecture of Entitlements," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 253-266, September.
    4. Richard M. Adams, 1989. "Global Climate Change and Agriculture: An Economic Perspective," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 71(5), pages 1272-1279.
    5. Cynthia Rosenzweig & Francesco Tubiello, 2007. "Adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture: an analysis of potential synergies," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 855-873, June.
    6. Safa Baccour & Jose Albiac & Frank Ward & Taher Kahil & Encarna Esteban & Javier Uche & Elena Calvo & Daniel Crespo, 2024. "Managing climate risks: new evidence from integrated analysis at the basin scale," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(6), pages 915-939, November.
    7. Luc J. Christiaensen & Kalanidhi Subbarao, 2005. "Towards an Understanding of Household Vulnerability in Rural Kenya," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 14(4), pages 520-558, December.
    8. Eric Tate, 2012. "Social vulnerability indices: a comparative assessment using uncertainty and sensitivity analysis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 63(2), pages 325-347, September.
    9. Frank Ellis, 2000. "The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 289-302, May.
    10. Alejandro del Pozo & Nidia Brunel-Saldias & Alejandra Engler & Samuel Ortega-Farias & Cesar Acevedo-Opazo & Gustavo A. Lobos & Roberto Jara-Rojas & Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, 2019. "Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies of Agriculture in Mediterranean-Climate Regions (MCRs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Jeanne Dachary-Bernard & Helene Rey-Valette & Bénédicte Rulleau, 2019. "Preferences among coastal and inland residents relating to managed retreat: Influence of risk perception in acceptability of relocation strategies," Post-Print hal-02049356, HAL.
    12. Duong Thi Loi & Le Van Huong & Pham Anh Tuan & Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung & Tong Thi Quynh Huong & Bui Thi Hoa Man, 2022. "An Assessment of Agricultural Vulnerability in the Context of Global Climate Change: A Case Study in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
    13. Barry Smit & Ian Burton & Richard Klein & J. Wandel, 2000. "An Anatomy of Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 223-251, April.
    14. Neil Adger, W., 1999. "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change and Extremes in Coastal Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 249-269, February.
    15. Susan L. Cutter & Bryan J. Boruff & W. Lynn Shirley, 2003. "Social Vulnerability to Environmental Hazards," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 84(2), pages 242-261, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Abderraouf Zaatra & Mélanie Requier-Desjardins & Hélène Rey-Valette & Thierry Blayac & Hatem Belhouchette, 2025. "Assessment of Farm Vulnerability to Climate Change in Southern France," Post-Print hal-05157023, HAL.
    2. Piya, Luni & Maharjan, Keshav Lall & Joshi, Niraj Prakash, 2012. "Vulnerability of rural households to climate change and extremes: Analysis of Chepang households in the Mid-Hills of Nepal," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126191, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Arun Agrawal & Robin Mearns & Nicolas Perrin & Minna Kononen, 2011. "Area-Based Development, Local Institutions and Climate Adaptation," World Bank Publications - Reports 27313, The World Bank Group.
    4. H.M. Tuihedur Rahman & Gordon M. Hickey, 2020. "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Mya Sherman & James Ford & Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas & María Valdivia & Alejandra Bussalleu, 2015. "Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of community food systems in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 77(3), pages 2049-2079, July.
    6. Deressa, Temesgen & Hassan, Rashid M. & Ringler, Claudia, 2008. "Measuring Ethiopian farmers' vulnerability to climate change across regional states:," IFPRI discussion papers 806, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    7. World Bank, 2012. "The Welfare Effects of Extreme Weather Events : Insights from Three APEC Case Studies," World Bank Publications - Reports 13039, The World Bank Group.
    8. Jacky Duvil & Feuillet Thierry & Evens Emmanuel & Bénédique Paul, 2024. "Assessing the Vulnerability of Farming Households on the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola to Climate Change," Post-Print hal-04690866, HAL.
    9. Shaikh Mohammad Kais & Md Saidul Islam, 2020. "Resilience to Climate Change in Industrial Shrimping in Bangladesh: Assessing the Comparative Role of the Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    10. Alexander Fekete, 2019. "Social vulnerability change assessment: monitoring longitudinal demographic indicators of disaster risk in Germany from 2005 to 2015," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 95(3), pages 585-614, February.
    11. Arun Agrawal, 2008. "The Role of Local Institutions in Adaptation to Climate Change," World Bank Publications - Reports 28274, The World Bank Group.
    12. Hans-Martin Füssel, 2010. "Review and Quantitative Analysis of Indices of Climate Change Exposure, Adaptive Capacity, Sensitivity, and Impacts," World Bank Publications - Reports 9193, The World Bank Group.
    13. Arouri, Mohamed & Nguyen, Cuong & Youssef, Adel Ben, 2015. "Natural Disasters, Household Welfare, and Resilience: Evidence from Rural Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 59-77.
    14. Sofia Mardero & Birgit Schmook & Jorge Omar López-Martínez & Lizette Cicero & Claudia Radel & Zachary Christman, 2018. "The Uneven Influence of Climate Trends and Agricultural Policies on Maize Production in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Huicong Jia & Fang Chen & Enyu Du, 2021. "Adaptation to Disaster Risk—An Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    16. Asfaw, Solomon & McCarthy, Nancy & Paolantonio, Adriana & Cavatassi, Romina & Amare, Mulubrhan & Lipper, Leslie, 2015. "Diversification, Climate Risk and Vulnerability to Poverty: Evidence from Rural Malawi," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 230216, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    17. Eno Amos & Uduak Akpan & Kehinde Ogunjobi, 2015. "Households’ perception and livelihood vulnerability to climate change in a coastal area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 887-908, August.
    18. Harry W Fischer & Ashwini Chhatre, 2016. "Assets, livelihoods, and the ‘profile approach’ for analysis of differentiated social vulnerability in the context of climate change," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 48(4), pages 789-807, April.
    19. Sara Lindersson & Elena Raffetti & Maria Rusca & Luigia Brandimarte & Johanna Mård & Giuliano Di Baldassarre, 2023. "The wider the gap between rich and poor the higher the flood mortality," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 995-1005, August.
    20. Ognjen Žurovec & Sabrija Čadro & Bishal Kumar Sitaula, 2017. "Quantitative Assessment of Vulnerability to Climate Change in Rural Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-18, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:7:p:1388-:d:1692686. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.