Economic Aspects of Climate Adaptation in Agriculture

Adapting to changes triggered by climate change is a major challenge especially for those sectors whose economic basis is the natural environment. In addition to the leisure industry, this includes agriculture. Although part of the production takes place under controlled conditions in greenhouses and in protected cultivation, the biggest share of agricultural output is produced under natural conditions, especially elementary food such as starch, oil, protein and field vegetables. In many parts of Austria, especially in the East, the increasing water shortage is a threat to agricultural production. In the study, different options for climate adaptation in plant production are discussed from an economic perspective. The focus of the work is on irrigation. In addition to a literature review, those elements are identified that need to be considered in a comprehensive assessment of large irrigation projects from an economic perspective.