Smart management of emergencies in the agricultural, forestry, and animal production domain: Tackling evolving risks in the climate change era

Abstract

The agricultural, forestry, and animal production domain (AFA domain) plays an essential role in meeting global needs and supporting livelihoods while facing escalating challenges from climate change-induced impacts and extreme natural events. This perspective advocates for urgent strategies to enhance resilience through effective emergency management and prevention measures tailored to this critical domain. The analysis here exposed, which includes elements of ontology and the conceptual approach of an emergency management system encompassing both restoration and prevention aspects, entails three case studies across the AFA domain. Each case study, described by location, timing, nature, and consequences, critically evaluates the implemented risk prevention measures, details the emergency and recovery actions, and highlights shortcomings in response efforts. The analysis, incorporating a retrospective comparative component based on the proposed conceptual model, highlights the importance of identifying lessons learned and potential future applications. It emphasizes the urgent need for a well-structured emergency management strategy that integrates risk mapping and advanced technology to ensure timely and effective responses. The active engagement of domain professionals (agronomists, foresters, animal production doctors) and scholars of AFA domain sciences, as either farm owners or technical advisors, is crucial to optimize intervention strategies. This engagement is especially important for enhancing resilience during recovery phases, aligning with the best international practices such as making use of local knowledge and citizen engagement strategies. Comprehensive training initiatives, also adopting innovative formats and tools including micro-credentials, e-learning platforms, and the applications of generative Artificial Intelligence for learning assistance, as well as new research insights are strategic for coordinated and effective emergency responses across all stakeholders. Collaboration between the different production systems and areas of expertise, raising awareness of the distinction between Civil Protection and Production Protection and fostering their close interconnection, is essential for effective emergency response and long-term resilience.