Page 22 - APEC CLIMATE CENTER 2025 Annual Report

APEC CLIMATE CENTER 2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Highlighted 5. Maximizing the Utility of Agro-Climate Impact Highlighted Vague terms like 'Plant Period' and 'Crop Period,' which were uncommon in the field,

were abolished and replaced with 'Growing Season Length (GSL),' which reflects actual
Achievements Information: Developing 5 Enhanced Indices for Field Achievements crop growth characteristics. Specifically, GSL established quantitative calculation criteria
Application
in 2025 in 2025 by defining the start date as "when the daily average temperature remains above 5℃ for
5 consecutive days" and the end date as "when it remains below 5℃ for 5 consecutive
㉖ Dr. Shin, Yonghee (shin.yonghee@apcc21.org) days," enabling precise prediction of changes in cultivation periods due to climate change.

2. Efficiency in Facility Agriculture Energy Management and Advance-
As the climate crisis accelerates and agricultural environments undergo rapid transforma- ment of Fruit Tree Models
tions, the importance of agricultural impact information utilizing National Climate Change 'Heating Degree Days,' which simply accumulated temperature differences, was upgraded
Standard Scenarios (SSP) is more critical than ever. However, the eight agricultural impact to 'Facility Heating Degree Days (HDD),' specialized for energy management in smart farms
indices that were previously used had limitations in accurately reflecting actual field de- and greenhouses. Based on the critical growth temperature for each crop (5℃ for cold-tol-
mands and the changing technical environment. For instance, terms like 'Plant Period' erant, 10℃ for heat-loving), this accurately calculates heating demand to maintain optimal
and 'Crop Period' were vague and seldom used in the field. Moreover, simplified calcu- internal environments, supporting farmers in planning heating cost reductions. Converse-
lation methods that merely aggregated days above a base temperature failed to reflect ly, 'Cooling Degree Days (CDD)' was excluded due to its low utility, as farmers rarely use
the diversity of growth environments. Technically, while scenario data is provided on a cooling systems due to cost constraints.
'daily' basis, existing models for 'Chill Units' (such as the Utah model) required hourly me-
teorological data, resulting in significant compatibility challenges. Furthermore, indices 3. Strengthening Response Capabilities in Livestock Sector to Prevent
like 'Cooling Degree Days' were criticized for low practical utility, as they overlooked the re- Mortality
ality that most farmers rarely operate cooling facilities due to prohibitive operating costs.
The simple 'Temperature Humidity Index' was renamed 'Livestock Heat Index (THI)' to al-
Accordingly, this study precisely diagnosed the limitations of the existing indices through
low farmers to intuitively recognize risks, and its functions were significantly enhanced.
consultations with experts from various fields, including the Korea National University of
Applying the US NRC (National Research Council) formula, we quantified livestock heat
Agriculture and Fisheries, the National Institute of Animal Science, and the National Insti-
stress based on daily average temperature and humidity. Instead of providing just an
tute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, and developed improvement plans that ensure
index value, we improved it to provide 5-level risk information (Normal-Caution-Warn-
both data availability and practical applicability in the agricultural field.
ing-Danger-Fatal) based on thresholds for each livestock type (cattle, pigs, chickens). This
supports livestock farmers in taking preemptive measures to prevent mass losses during
This achievement holds significant scientific meaning as it represents a paradigm shift
heatwaves.
from a simple listing of meteorological statistics to precise prediction models that reflect
the biological characteristics of crops. In particular, we introduced a 'Phenological Model
(Cesaraccio et al.)' capable of sophisticatedly predicting dormancy break and flowering Category Existing Indices (8 types) Improved Indices (5 types) Major Changes
times of fruit trees using only daily data. Furthermore, by standardizing disparate growth
indices into 'Growing Degree Days (GDD)' and 'Growing Season Length (GSL)' and estab- Growing Degree Days
Growing Degree Days Unification of names and formulas
lishing clear calculation criteria, we have enhanced the objectivity and reliability of assess-
Effective Accumulated Temperature
ments on the impact of climate change. From a socio-economic perspective, the devel-
Integration
opment of 'Facility Heating Degree Days,' specialized for energy management on smart
Plant Period
farms and greenhouses, provides a basis for calculating winter heating cost savings and Establishment of start/end date
Growing Season Length
greenhouse gas reduction effects. In addition, the 'Livestock Heat Index (THI),' an improve- criteria
Crop Period
ment over the simple temperature-humidity index, provides precise 5-level risk warnings
ranging from 'Normal' to 'Fatal' by livestock type (cattle, pigs, chickens). This is expected
Heating Degree Days Specialized for greenhouse energy
to directly contribute to stabilizing farm household income and strengthening national Facility Heating Degree Days
Cooling Degree Days(Deleted) management
food security by preemptively preventing mass livestock mortality caused by summer
heatwaves. Refinement
Provision of 5-level risk
We conducted a thorough analysis of the existing eight agricultural impact indices, reor- Temperature Humidity Index Livestock Heat Index
information by livestock type
ganized overlapping or low-utility indicators, and refined them into five core indices that
maximize field usability. The specific results are as follows:
Application of phenological model
Method Change Chill Units Chill Days / Anti-Chill Days
1. Scientific Standardization and Integration of Crop Growth Indices using daily data
Overlapping concepts such as 'Growing Degree Days' and 'Effective Accumulated Tem-
perature' were unified into 'Growing Degree Days (GDD),' and the unit was standardized
from the unofficial 'degree-day' to the internationally accepted '℃·day' to enhance data Table 1 Comparison of Agricultural Impact Indices Improvement
reliability.

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