Farmers attitude towards adoption and on farm selection of wheat genetic resources for lowinput climate resilient agriculture – lessons learnt in Serbia

The need to address global agricultural problems related to climate change, extreme weather events, soil degradation and contamination, water pollution, and loss of agrobiodiversity has been advocated by numerous researchers, activists, and national, international, community based, and non-governmental organizations focused on food and agriculture. Some proposed actions aimed at contributing to solutions, such as raising awareness of pressing challenges, emphasizing knowledge transfer, and highlighting the benefits of adopting new technologies, are particularly focused on farmers. Despite good intentions, the implementation approach targeting farmers may include some misconceptions. Firstly, preconceived assumptions and top-down impositions may ignore the fact that farmers are among the most aware of these challenges, as their very existence is directly threatened. The higher their stakes, the greater their interest in solving the causes of the problems. Thus, raising awareness of climate change effects on agriculture among farmers is unnecessary, even condescending and potentially counterproductive. Secondly, in our experience, farmers’ interest in acquiring the skills and know-how required to adapt to changing circumstances is evident. This is reflected in their regular and large attendance at various knowledge transfer events, such as winter schools, seminars, training sessions, lectures, fairs, field days, and demonstration fields. However, farmers’ receptiveness requires clear, focused, evidence-based, and straightforwardly communicated solutions that address their needs, which are often lacking in practice. It is not uncommon for academic jargon to raise doubts and suspicion among pragmatic farmers, whose extensive experience and rich traditional knowledge demand concrete facts and arguments.