Eco events: a conference on the theme: "Climate change, agriculture, and landscapes: opportunities or disasters?"

[Press release] - Published on October 14, 2025 in Press Room

As part of its "eco meetings," the Faculty of Economics at the University of Montpellier is organizing a conference on the theme: " Climate Change, Agriculture, and Landscapes: Opportunities or Disasters?" Tuesday, November 4, starting at 6:00 p.m., on the Richter campus at the Faculty of Economics.

Why this conference?

Faced with major climate upheavals (frost in April 2021, drought and heatwaves in 2022, excess water between 2023 and 2024), Serge Zaka analyzes the changes underway and proposes adaptation and mitigation strategies. His goal is clear: to preserve sustainable, resilient, and efficient agriculture in order to guarantee France's food independence by 2050.

Solutions exist, and they are multifaceted:

• Genetics for more resilient varieties,
• Optimized irrigation and water resource management,
• Role of trees and hedgerows in regulating the agricultural climate,
• Microclimate control and regenerative hydrology to restore soil fertility,
• Adaptation of agricultural practices and reorganization of production areas.

But these initiatives require strong political support to meet the challenges of a changing world, where agricultural issues are intertwined with geopolitical tensions and food crises.

Speaker

Serge ZAKA, agronomist and doctor of agroclimatology, is a recognized expert on the impact of climate change on agriculture. Founder of AgroClimat2050, he is dedicated to the scientific analysis of field crops, market gardening, arboriculture, viticulture, and livestock farming. His motto: anticipate.

Known to the general public for his commitment to popularizing science, he is also a storm chaser, winner of the 2021 World's Most Beautiful Photo Award, and a contributor to numerous documentaries. He is the author of the first comic book dedicated to agroclimatology, Dr. Zarge and Agroclimatology, as well as his biography to be published by Harper Collins: Storms on Climate.