Variety choice in crop production for climate change adaptation: Farmer evidence from Germany

The objective of this study was to understand what particular crop variety requirements farmers were demanding in the context of climate change adaptation. A broad-based survey was used to collect primary data from 515 farmers. The majority of farmers interviewed perceived climatic change impacts on crop production, with more than half stating that they would rely on a locally adapted variety selection. The respondents identified yield stability, yield performance, and drought tolerance as being particularly important variety properties. In selecting varieties, their own experience, exchanges with colleagues, and recommendations from the State Plant Varieties Offices were identified as being important sources of information. The research highlights a need to reflect farmers' demands in official variety recommendations such as plant breeding. This would help support the choice of varieties in agricultural practice and reduce crop production risks in regard to climate change risk.