Principle No8

Here we come to the last of the eight pillars on which the MANS method is based: adaptation to climatic conditions.

For years, at the end of each season, I have devoted myself to a “hot” commentary on the vintage that has just passed (see Vintages: how to recognize a good vintage). As I write these reflections, I realize that what was once considered “abnormal” has now become the norm, while a regular vintage is now the exception (as was, for example, 2015).

We are witnessing a series of extreme weather phenomena:

• Extraordinarily hot and drought years: 2003, 2011, 2017, 2022.
• Late spring frosts: 2017, 2021.
• Intense hailstorms: 2016.
• Extremely wet springs followed by record droughts and heats: 2023 and, in part, 2024.

The phrase “I’ve never seen anything like it” is now on everyone’s lips, even the oldest.

In Tuscany, despite being one of the regions of Italy with a traditionally more temperate climate, we clearly feel the signs of climate change:

• Rising temperatures: increasingly mild winters and fewer frost days than in the past.
• Changes in precipitation patterns: rainfall tends to be concentrated in extreme events, while dry spells become longer.
• Extreme weather events: sudden storms, hailstorms, late frosts.
• Effects on ecosystems: native plant and animal species are increasingly threatened.

These signals are a stark reminder of the urgency of decisive and coordinated action, locally, nationally and globally, to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

One of the most significant problems to be addressed is drought and water stress, but heat waves are inevitably associated with phenomena such as hailstorms.

In the past, urban areas were more limited and surrounded by countryside. Today, overbuilding has supplanted much of the green space. Where polyculture used to dominate, monoculture now prevails, making the problem even worse. The elimination of greenery and deforestation have contributed to rising temperatures, reducing shading and the albedo coefficient.
The consequence is that these practices promote atmospheric instability: warm air on the ground, rich in water vapor, rises rapidly to the cooler layers of the atmosphere (a phenomenon known as convection), increasing the likelihood of hailstorms.

Maintaining greenery, forests and woodlands is essential to reducing global warming and stabilizing the climate. In contrast, overbuilding and even industrial viticulture, with continuous and invasive soil tillage, promote conditions for heat waves. The latter, in turn, increase atmospheric instability, generating violent storm events as well as hailstorms.

Mitigation of the effects of climate change also comes through reforestation and forest protection, strategies that can reduce the frequency and intensity of these extreme events. This intertwining of different climate and land dynamics highlights the need for sustainable land and natural resource management.

A method such as MANS (Method of Natural and Sustainable Agriculture), which promotes biodiversity, agroforestry and sustainability, creates the conditions for greater adaptability to climate change:

• Biodiversity: promotes reduced vulnerability to pests, diseases and climate change, as each species contributes uniquely to the ecosystem;
• Agroforestry: improves microclimate regulation, water retention, and erosion protection; and trees absorb CO₂, contributing to global warming mitigation.
• Sustainability: regenerative practices improve soil structure, making it more resilient to extreme events such as droughts and floods; healthy soils rich in organic matter retain more water, releasing it gradually; integration of vineyards with hedgerows and tree plants creates complex and resilient ecosystems.

Conventional agriculture, on the other hand, proposes different paths, such as:

• Development of resistant varieties (biotechnology and GMOs).
• Use of advanced fertilizers and pesticides.
• Mechanization and automation.
• Adaptation to large monocultures, with agricultural insurance and emergency funds to compensate for losses caused by extreme weather events.
• Economies of scale and centralization.

However, this approach has significant limitations:

• Technology dependence and high initial costs.
• Reduced biodiversity and negative environmental impacts (intensive fertilizers and pesticides, even if advanced, can cause long-term damage).
• Limited social sustainability: tends to exclude small farmers, exacerbating rural inequalities.
• Standardization of production, reducing adaptability to local context.
• Short-term focus, neglecting long-term sustainability.

In contrast, farming according to nature represents an approach that focuses on collaboration with natural cycles, soil regeneration, biodiversity and lasting sustainability. An example of this philosophy is polyculture, which allows multiple species to be grown in the same plot, making the most of natural synergies. Each plant contributes to the overall balance of the ecosystem, making it less vulnerable to pests, diseases and climate change.

Farming according to nature means working with the environment, not against it, ensuring healthy food and more balanced territories for future generations. The MANS method offers solutions that are more sustainable, economical and suitable for small and medium-sized farms, favoring harmony with natural cycles.

The industrial model, on the other hand, focuses on advanced technologies and high yields, often at the expense of biodiversity, soil health and affordability.

Here is a comparative prospectus showing how the MANS method, applied to viticulture, promotes high quality, environmentally friendly and climate change adaptable production, with a focus on biodiversity, resilience and enhancement of local grape varieties.

Prospetto Comparativo sulla Viticoltura.

The Natural and Sustainable Agricultural Method (MANS), with its focus on biodiversity, agroforestry and regenerative practices, offers a complementary model capable of filling the gaps in industrial agriculture. The combination of advanced technologies with natural approaches could provide an effective balance to address future climate challenges.

Integrating these two philosophies would make it possible to preserve the quality of territories and the health of ecosystems while enhancing agricultural production. In this way, agriculture can evolve towards a system that not only meets current needs, but also protects resources for future generations.

Ultimately, farming according to nature, as MANS proposes, means investing in a more resilient, harmonious and responsible agriculture, capable of transforming climate change from a challenge into an opportunity for sustainable innovation.

“It doesn’t end here: in the next episode, we will explore together the final insights, where reflections and perspectives intertwine to reveal new horizons.”

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