Adaptation Strategies of South American Farmers to Climate Change: A Systematic Review

Climate change presents increasing challenges to agricultural systems worldwide, and South America is no exception. The region hosts diverse farming systems and faces significant climate risks, but evidence on how farmers adapt remains limited and comparatively underrepresented. To address this gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines, covering research published between 2004 and 2024. Thirty-five peer-reviewed studies were retrieved, revealing significant variability in country representation, methodological approaches, and depth of analysis, with a manifest absence of quantitative evidence. The research synthesized 180 adaptation strategies, grouped into six categories: i) crop and soil management; ii) irrigation management; iii) farm management; iv) livestock management; v) household strategies; and vi) ecosystems and environmental protection. Nearly 84% of all strategies fall into the first three categories, indicating a predominance of technical and production-oriented approaches. In addition, the review also reveals regional contrasts. Less vulnerable countries exhibit more technology-driven, long-term adaptations. In contrast, more vulnerable, agriculture-dependent countries rely on short-term, low-cost agronomic adjustments, reflecting broader inequalities in institutional capacity and financial resources. The findings highlight the need for more robust empirical research, particularly quantitative and longitudinal studies, to enrich understanding of farmers’ adaptation dynamics, and to examine the long-term sustainability and potential unintended consequences of specific adaptation strategies to support more equitable and resilient agricultural systems in South America.