Stakeholders’ perceptions of climate change point to future challenges for the adaptation of grain legumes

Abstract The diversification of cropping systems using grain legumes has been identified as a crucial lever in the transition towards more sustainable agriculture in Europe. However, climate change will likely impact the yields and services provided by these crops. Increasing the production area of grain legumes will therefore require the design of effective adaptation strategies. Of all the factors constraining grain legume development in Europe, the impact of climate change is one that has received little attention from researchers to date. This study contributes to filling this gap by evaluating stakeholders’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation options, as well as the barriers hindering adaptation. We conducted 33 interviews with stakeholders involved at various stages of the value chains for five major grain legume species in France. Interviewees’ perceptions depended on their location and the grain legume species considered. Although most interviewees perceived climate change as a constraint for grain legumes, they identified opportunities for specific crops and regions. The interviewees had either observed, imagined, or experimented with a diverse range of adaptation options. Despite this diversity, the interviewees reported barriers of various natures that need to be removed to support adaptation. This diagnosis points to three major challenges for the adaptation of grain legumes: (i) addressing the antagonistic symptoms of climate change, including the perceived increase in climate variability, and the lack of methods for anticipating long-term climatic changes; (ii) dealing simultaneously with adapting to climate change and unlocking socio-technical systems regarding grain legumes; and (iii) filling knowledge gaps on grain legume response to climate change. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess stakeholders’ perceptions of climate change and identify opportunities and challenges for the adaptation of grain legumes in Europe.