This work investigates the impacts of Global and Climate Change on agricultural land use in the Upper Danube basin by using different scenario calculations with a regional non-linear agricultural sector model. The objective of the current study is to assess the economic and ecological impact of Global and Climate Change on regional agricultural land use in Europe by means of a regional case study for the Upper Danube basin. Key questions are: What are the short term impacts of climate change on agriculture for the next decade? What impacts are expected in the long run? What are the short term impacts on agriculture for the next decade taking into account socio-economic changes (agricultural policy, technological advance, prices)? Which scenario may be the least/most desirable with respect to the provision of ecosystem services by agriculture for a given region or farm type?


The Author: Alexander Wirsig, born in 1971 in Ludwigburg (Germany); 1993-2000 Study of Agricultural Sciences (graduate engineer) at the University of Hohenheim (Germany); 2000-2002 Study of Master of Business Administration in International Marketing (MBA) at the University of Applied Sciences Reutlingen (Germany); 2002-2007 Associate at an independent consultancy at Stuttgart (Germany); 2004-2007 Scientific staff at the Institute for Farm Management at the University of Hohenheim; since 2007 Executive at an independent consultancy at Stuttgart.