Analyzing climate effects on agriculture in time and space

Climate in its spatial and temporal variability is one of the major drivers determining agricultural productivity in a region. In order to develop long-term agricultural policies, planners need to understand the likely impacts of climate change on agricultural suitability zones. In this paper we present a flexible approach for the spatio-temporal evaluation and analysis of climate suitability for different crops. First results of a case study application, aiming at investigating how climate suitability for grain maize production in Switzerland varies in time and space and may shift with climate change, are discussed.