To Adapt or not to Adapt: How Swiss Fruit Farmers respond to Climate Change

Climate change poses a substantial threat to global agricultural livelihoods, with particular challenges for the perennial crop sector due to path dependencies. This study utilizes survey data from Swiss fruit farmers to analyze grower behavior, climate perception, and adaptation strategies. We investigate the differential impacts of frost and drought on farmers’ livelihoods, providing an extensive overview of Swiss farmers’ perspectives on climate change. Our examination encompasses climate perceptions and the assessment of willingness to adapt to various paths, exploring factors influencing adaptation choices. Preliminary findings highlight significant harvest losses from frost compared to drought. Farmers with irrigation systems demonstrate enhanced abilities in identifying temporal shifts in precipitation. Moreover, farmers acknowledging both climate change and its human causes exhibit more accurate climate perceptions than those denying climate change. Additional results reveal a U-shaped relationship between farmers’ losses and their willingness to adapt, with a tendency for climate change believers to exhibit greater adaptability to future climatic shifts. This study contributes scientific insights into the complex dynamics of climate change impacts on Swiss fruit growers, offering a basis for informed decision-making and adaptive strategies in evolving climatic conditions.