Across the world, farmers are adapting to climate change - with some turning to new crops. In Austria, warmer winter weather means Mediterranean staples, like olives, can now be cultivated.

"Climate change in this region has been so strong and winters are so mild that olives just grow here," says William Markl from the Eastern Austrian village of Gols.

Together with his business partner Jonathan Beck, the 27-year-old entrepreneur decided to grow olive trees instead of potatoes or corn... something that is starting to change the landscape.

Temperatures in Austria have risen by three 3.1 degrees Celsius since 1900, more than twice the global average, a scientific report commissioned by Austria's climate ministry found.

While previously, olive trees would not survive Austrian winters, they are now thriving thanks to the milder climate... with some olive groves expanding across more than two hectares.

William and Jonathan planted 400 trees in the last three years and are expecting to steadily increase production. "If we reach a point where we maybe harvest around two thousand kilos we will be thinking about producing oil," Beck told CGTN.

It's not just olives. Some Austrian farmers have started cultivating rice while winegrowers are testing new heat-resistant grapes. This comes as traditional crops are challenged by increasing periods of heat and drought.

Markl, who is half-Chinese, also started to grow Sichuan pepper and Chinese dates alongside his olive trees, in response to consumers seeking out more exotic foods.

"It's fun to drive around the region and then you see another new olive grove from somebody else," the young olive grower says. "Maybe in 10-20 years, it's going to look like Italy here."

Some farmers worry that Austrian summers are becoming too dry – even for olive trees.

But new irrigation canals which are set to withdraw water from the Danube could ease the situation, helping those who have adapted their buisness model to embrace the drier, warmer weather to flourish.