Knowledge partnership: an extension approach in climate change adaptation

Marion Titterton

Robyn Eversole

Joanna Lyall

University of Tasmania

Climate change adaptation extension: what approach works?

Extension: traditionally, the dissemination of proven research findingsTechnology transfer, programmed learning (workshops, field days), group discussionLong term climate futures: increasing body of evidence on temperature, greenhouse gas emissions: opportunities for planned management practice changes.Long term adaptation: will largely depend on these extension approaches to disseminate these findings and communicate climate change adaptation.

Short term, tactical approach: climate variability- what works?

Climate variability: inherently unpredictable, no proven research findings – the only certainty is change, increasing frequency and severity of extreme events and increased risk.To assist farmers to adapt to climate variability, traditional extension methods are not applicable.In our study, knowledge partnership was used as an alternative approach

Why should knowledge partnership work?

Risk perception not high in urban communities-livelihood and qualify of life not dependent on climate: difficult to communicate the need to adapt to climate variabilty and extreme events.Risk perception higher in rural communities- direct dependence on weather patterns, some adaptation has already taken place and management challenges intuitively recognised- hence the knowledge is there.Industry service providers can draw on and share local knowledge of weather changes and management implications for participatory planning of effective and relevant extension programs.

The use of knowledge partnership

The value of knowledge partnership was examined when planning an extension program to assist Tasmanian dairy farmers to adapt to climate change

Farmers were interviewed for their observations of weather pattern changes, adaptive practices already in place and recognition of challenges and issue arising.

The use of knowledge partnership

There was a strong association of changes observed by farmers, in weather patterns, temperatures and rainfall, with time of over ten years spent in their area;Some farmers reported changes in farming systems over this time, reflecting adaptive practices to the weather changes;There were many issues and management challenges to adaptation identified by the farmers and put forward for discussion by the focus groups;.Data from interviews were collated and presented to focus group meetings for discussion.

The use of knowledge partnershipIn the Focus group discussions, key issues were identified and distilled into topics .The wider dairy community was requested to prioritize topics for an extension program to assist farmers to build capacity for adapting to climate variability.There was some variation in agreed key issues across regions but for the wider community, there were a small number of topics which were common to all regions.This led to the identification of seven major themes and the extension program is now underway.Farmers were informed of the outcomes in the Tassie Dairy Newsletter which enhanced awareness of the program and we have seen good attendance at our events so far.

Extension program for Tasmanian dairy farmers

Priority themes selected by dairy farmers in Tasmania:

Energy efficiency: reducing power costs

Water: water storage, water use efficiency, environmental water flow management

Renewable energy: wind, solar, biogas, micro-hydro

Feedbase: dry tolerant forage crops, resilient pastures, silage for forage banks, pasture recovery

Animal health and welfare: in prolonged wet: lameness, mastitis, downer cows

On very hot days (Yes, TAS gets them!): heat stress

Infrastructure: laneways, feedpads, drainage, stand –off areas to prevent pugging

Working with people under stress

The value of knowledge partnership

This was a small sample in one sector

BUT we believe this study provided a good indication that the knowledge partnership approach could be a key factor in climate variability adaptation

We propose to widen the scope of this study to include other sectors (extensive agriculture and horticulture) for a more comprehensive assessment.