The Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) presented the AGROSHIELD Project, developed under the 2nd Open Call of the CLIMAAX programme, at MARUF25 – Marmara Urban Forum, a biennial international platform bringing together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from Türkiye and beyond.

AGROSHIELD aims to strengthen agricultural resilience in the Southern Marmara Basin by specifically targeting the districts of Gemlik, Gönen, İznik, and Karamürsel. Using the CLIMAAX methodology, developed within the scope of the CLIMAAX Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Framework and Toolkit, the project conducts high-resolution analyses of agricultural drought risks and vulnerabilities, integrating climate data, crop sensitivity, and local socio-economic factors.

Following the assessment, Community Adaptation Action Plans are developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. By addressing climate knowledge gaps in the Southern Marmara Basin, AGROSHIELD enhances the capacity of local communities to adapt to climate change and supports decision-makers in crafting more effective, locally tailored adaptation strategies.

Phase 1 findings indicate increasing drought severity, particularly for high-water-demand crops such as maize and paddy rice, while perennial crops like olives show relative resilience under future climate scenarios. These insights inform locally actionable adaptation measures and contribute to the Marmara Basin Drought Management Plan.

At MARUF25, project coordinator Büşra İnce showcased how AGROSHIELD translates complex drought and vulnerability data into practical, evidence-based strategies. The session also facilitated exchanges with other regional, national, and international projects, boosting the project’s visibility and fostering cross-regional learning and collaboration on climate resilience.