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MOSAICC: an interdisciplinary
system of models to evaluate the impact
of climate change on agriculture
Francois Delobel and Oscar Rojas, Climate, Energy and Tenure Division,
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
T
he Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), in partnership with European research
institutes, has developed an integrated suite of models
for assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture at a
national level. The Modelling System for Agricultural Impacts of
Climate Change (MOSAICC) is based on a generic methodology
defined to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture,
covering climate data downscaling, crop yield projections, water
resource estimations and an economic model. The economic
model is a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model designed
to assess the impacts of changing in yields on the economy at
national level. All models are connected through common spatial
A
griculture
database architecture and interconnected in terms
of input and output. All models and databases are
platform independent and can be hosted on a central
server. Multiple users can access the MOSAICC
toolbox simultaneously through a common web inter-
face, making data exchange easier, transparent and
more efficient for users.
MOSAICC is unique and innovative as it combines a
web-based interactive and integrated modelling envi-
ronment with tools and materials for capacity building
and technology transfer to (government) institutions
Image: courtesy of Roberto Sandoval
Training on the MOSAICC system in the Philippines