Abstract ID: 3.12197 | Accepted as Poster | Talk | TBA | TBA

Climate change, a wicked problem, poses interdependent challenges, requiring systemic solutions that integrate social, economic, and environmental factors. In the Graubünden Alps, Switzerland, tourism and agriculture are highly vulnerable to climate variability: unpredictable snowfall and extreme weather conditions undermine tourism, while water imbalances and changing biodiversity threaten agriculture, jeopardising production and economic stability. Despite their interdependence, weak communication and coordination along the value chain hinder adaptation efforts. Tourism research increasingly embraces transdisciplinary approaches to enhance territorial resilience by integrating scientific, policy, and local knowledge. Transdisciplinarity, which transcends disciplinary boundaries and fosters stakeholder collaboration, provides a promising framework for climate adaptation. The literature highlights its innovative potential, as diverse knowledge perspectives generate transformative solutions. However, institutional barriers, funding constraints, and limited empirical models hinder its application, underscoring the need to further explore its role across sectors. This study examines how a transdisciplinary approach enhances communication between tourism and agriculture in Graubünden, fostering intersectoral dialogue, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving to accelerate climate adaptation and strengthen resilience along the value chain. Conducted by researchers from the Università della Svizzera italiana, it is part of the Klimafitte Destinationen project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, which develops climate adaptation strategies for three pilot destinations (Lenzerheide, Prättigau, Engadine Scuol Samnaun Val Müstair). A comparative analysis extends to Locarno (Canton Ticino, Switzerland) to assess adaptation strategies across different climatic and socio-economic contexts. Methodologically, we employ a real-time longitudinal comparative case study, using field observations, participatory workshops, and qualitative interviews to analyze, and compare, dynamics in the four destinations over time. The study contributes to the broader discourse on transdisciplinarity by developing a best-practice toolkit to enhance tourism diversification, integrate local agriculture, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration, offering actionable insights for climate adaptation.