When the Trojan Horse Enters the Castle of Resilience: Rethinking Agricultural Extension to Avoid Risk of Maladaptation to Climate Change

As agricultural systems face growing climate threats, extension services are increasingly tasked with promoting adaptation strategies. However, emerging evidence highlights the risk of maladaptation—well-intended responses that inadvertently increase vulnerability or harm environmental and social systems. This analytical review critically examines agricultural extension's overlooked but crucial role in mitigating or unintentionally reinforcing maladaptive outcomes. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature and case studies from the Global South, the paper explores how extension advice can contribute to short-term solutions that undermine long-term resilience, particularly when local contexts, change trajectories, and justice concerns are ignored. We propose a conceptual framework for "Resilient and Responsible Adaptation," emphasizing systems thinking, participatory approaches, ethical awareness, and feedback mechanisms within extension practice. The findings underscore the need for extension professionals to shift from purely technical recommendations toward facilitating co-learning and climate-wise decision-making. The paper provides strategic insights for practitioners, educators, and policymakers on how to embed maladaptation awareness into extension training and advisory services, ensuring that climate adaptation efforts are not only effective but also just and sustainable.