A modelling and participatory approach for enhancing learning about adaptation of grassland-based livestock systems to climate change

To anticipate local livestock systems’ adaptation to climate change, we created a modelling and participatory approach that relies on the development and use of agro-meteorological and agronomic supports that are based on climate- and plant-model outputs and shaped by a conceptual model of a livestock system. The objective of this paper was to examine the extent to which the approach, in particular the use of the supports in workshops with farmers and advisors, helped to stimulate learning about adaptation options of livestock systems to climate change and the way in which workshop discussions can improve researchers’ conceptual models of livestock systems. We show that the use of supports can generate incremental adaptation options (interpreted as single-loop learning) and sometimes more radical ideas for change (interpreted as double-loop learning). Subsequent analysis of workshops provides new insights into livestock systems (e.g. considerations used by farmers for key decisions). We demonstrate that this modelling and participatory approach avoids the trade-off often found between the credibility of livestock-system adaptations to climate change and their relevance in practice.