The Regional Government of Piura has organized the Fourth Regional Forum on Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Piura Region, scheduled from November 6 to 8, 2025. The Faculty of Agronomy at the National University of Piura (UNP) has been invited to present a diagnosis on the effects of climate change on agriculture specifically for the Piura region.
As a leading agricultural research center, the Faculty of Agronomy is expected to play a central and multifaceted role in collaboration with the Regional Government to tackle the impacts of climate change on agriculture. This role emphasizes generating knowledge, transferring technology, and formulating policies grounded in quantitative evidence.
The Faculty intends to investigate various areas to ensure a continuous and effective response to climate change. It should lead the identification and prioritization of relevant research lines tailored to Piura”s specific agricultural conditions, collaborating with the Regional Government, farmers, and other agricultural stakeholders.
Within the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the Faculty of Agronomy”s role goes beyond mere participation; it positions itself as the technical and scientific hub and a catalyst for agricultural development in the region. Its focus is on leading and structuring a portfolio of relevant applied research, establishing a two-way knowledge interface with local agricultural producers.
Moreover, the Faculty should prioritize the urgent need to research how climate variations affect crop responses from emergence to harvest, alongside technological validation, ensuring the relevance and effective transfer of findings. It should leverage its research capabilities to produce high-resolution geospatial and agro-climatic data specific to Piura”s valleys and microclimates.
This includes developing models to assess the impact of climate change factors—such as temperature, precipitation, and extreme events—on crop yields and phenology for key products like mangoes, limes, rice, organic bananas, cotton, and corn.
In response to environmental changes, the Faculty should focus on developing and adapting crop varieties resilient to drought, extreme heat, soil salinity, and new pests or diseases associated with climate change. This research line will facilitate the identification of economically viable alternative crops suited to Piura”s evolving climate.
Additionally, investigating and validating efficient irrigation technologies, such as drip and micro-sprinkler systems, as well as water capture and storage solutions, is crucial to maximizing irrigation water efficiency, which is increasingly seen as a global agricultural risk factor.
Collaboration with the Regional Government and farmers should not be merely informational but structural, ensuring that research lines address real issues and are adoptable. The Forum should serve as a launching point to design a tri-annual or quinquennial Regional Agricultural Research and Innovation Agenda, aligning the Faculty”s priorities with the Regional Development Goals and the Regional Government”s Concerted Development Plans concerning climate change.
It is also imperative to ensure that undergraduate programs integrate climate issues, preparing future professionals and technicians with the competencies needed to implement and manage crop adaptation solutions in the region.
The Faculty of Agronomy should act as a technical advisor and strategic partner for the Regional Government of Piura, providing the academic foundation necessary for policy design and implementation, supplying data, models, and region-specific climate projections to inform political decisions and territorial planning. Furthermore, it should evaluate the economic and social impacts of various adaptation and mitigation options.
The generated knowledge must reach farmers effectively to facilitate real change in the field. This includes designing and conducting training programs and workshops for technicians, extension workers, and farmers on new agricultural technologies and practices. Establishing demonstration plots in various Piura microclimates, managed in collaboration with the Regional Government, will help validate and disseminate innovations.
Additionally, developing digital tools such as applications and platforms for disseminating climate information, alerts, and best agricultural management practices is essential. Fostering collaboration with the private sector and farmers” associations will enhance access to inputs and markets for products produced under new practices.
Ultimately, the Faculty of Agronomy should not merely be a participant in the Fourth Regional Forum on Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in the Piura Region; it should serve as the technical and scientific engine driving the transformation of agriculture in Piura, guiding research toward practical solutions and effective public policies.
