Climate Induced Stress & Agricultural Decision Making
Investigated how climate-related stress impacts farmers’ decisions to use emissions-heavy practices like irrigation and fertilizers. Our research revealed a feedback loop between psychological stress, unsustainable farming, and environmental decline.
Project Type
Tools
Role
Length
10 weeks
Challenge
Farmers face growing psychological stress due to climate change especially from worsening droughts and financial instability. This stress influences decision-making and can push farmers to adopt short-term, GHG-intensive farming practices (like excessive irrigation and fertilizer use), risking long-term sustainability and worsening emissions.
Results
Data showed that drought severity correlated with spikes in emissions and crop value due to more resource-intensive practices. Psychological stress, particularly from climate pressure, emerged as the strongest driver of anxiety and unsustainable decision-making. Fertilizer use rose under moderate drought but dropped when drought became severe. Supporting farmer mental health is essential to mitigating harmful feedback loops between stress and environmental harm.
63%
CO₂ emissions spiked during severe drought years due to resource-intensive practices
47%
Increase in fertilizer and irrigation use linked to psychological stress and financial pressure
-34%
Drop in long-term sustainability as over-reliance on short-term adaptations depletes resources
Process
Research & Data Collection:
We explored farmer stress reports and agricultural datasets, focusing on fertilizer use, irrigation, drought severity, CO₂ emissions, and crop production values. This helped us understand how climate-induced stress influences decision-making.
Data Exploration & Organization:
We structured our analysis into four themes: temporal trends, psychological impact, environmental adaptations, and interconnections between stress and emissions. This allowed us to identify patterns and relationships across variables.
Correlational & Inferential Analysis:
We applied statistical techniques to uncover links between drought, financial pressure, and unsustainable farming behaviors. This helped us evaluate how psychological stress contributes to resource-intensive practices.
Findings Synthesis:
Our results were synthesized into a cohesive narrative, demonstrating how climate stress affects behavior and drives emissions. This guided our final conclusions and recommendations.
Presentation Design:
We crafted a compelling visual presentation to communicate our findings highlighting key insights through graphs, diagrams, and accessible storytelling for a broader audience.
"This project thoughtfully explored the intersection of climate stress and agricultural practices, highlighting the critical role of mental health in environmental decision-making."
Jeremy V.
Research Collaborator
Conclusion
Our research reveals the complex link between climate-induced psychological stress and unsustainable farming practices. As climate variability intensifies, farmers face mounting emotional and financial pressures that influence critical decisions about irrigation, fertilizer use, and overall resource management. These choices, often driven by short-term survival, can increase greenhouse gas emissions and risk long-term sustainability. Addressing this cycle requires not only environmental interventions but also targeted mental health and economic support for farming communities. By integrating climate science, psychology, and policy, we can develop solutions that promote both agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability.