An interdisciplinary framework of limits and barriers to climate change adaptation in agriculture

Farmers need to undertake adaptive action to protect their livelihoods from the impacts of climate change. There is an emerging discourse about existing limits (absolute obstacles) and barriers (mutable obstacles) to climate change adaptation. Given the complex, multifaceted nature of climate change, interdisciplinary research is the most effective way to improve understanding of these obstacles. However, the success of multi-disciplinary projects tends to be hindered by a lack of common definition of limits and barriers. There exists no agreed framework that integrates the different understandings of limits and barriers to agricultural adaptation. In this study, we develop an interdisciplinary framework of limits and barriers to climate change adaptation in Western Australian broad-acre farming. The framework incorporates biophysical, technological, and socio-economic factors. We show how farmers' personal characteristics and the socio-institutional context within which farmers act contribute to limits and barriers. The study revealed important differences on how various research disciplines understand limits and barriers to adaptation. The framework developed will guide future integrative projects around the epistemological challenges that are typically encountered in multi-disciplinary research. We discuss the greatest knowledge gaps that limit our understanding of limit and barriers, and suggest areas where policy efforts should be focused to help farmers adapt to climate change