About RAPT
This tool aims to connect multiple users interested in agricultural adaptation in Central and South America in response to climate change, its impacts, and other economic variables.
The results visualised and shared here were developed by researchers from the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance, with support from organisations such as CRS and the 'Policy and Innovation' science programme, which is backed by CGIAR.
Basic concepts:
Climate scenario:
Simplified representation of possible future climates used to simulate impacts. They are not forecasts; each scenario is an alternative of how the climate could behave.
Suitability
Degree of climatic and agroecological suitability of a territory for the development of a crop, taking into account temperature and precipitation.
Change in climate suitability
Difference in crop suitability between a reference period (baseline 1970-2000) and the projected future (e.g., 2040, 2060, 2080) at a point in the territory (pixel).
Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP):
Framework that characterizes mitigation and adaptation challenges. The tool compares:
- SSP1-2.6: SSP1-2.6: low emissions with strong mitigation.
- SSP2-4.5: SSP2-4.5: intermediate scenario with moderate mitigation.
- SSP5-8.5: SSP5-8.5: high emissions with high dependence on fossil fuels.
Climate comparative advantages
Difference in future suitability between a reference crop and test crops to identify local diversification opportunities.