A study from Aalto University indicates climate change may threaten up to a third of global food production, especially impacting low-latitude regions. Staple crops like rice and maize are at risk, with significant declines in diversity expected. Urgent actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation are necessary, as the effects will resonate globally.
A new study published in Nature Food reveals that climate change poses a significant threat to global food production, with potential impacts on one-third of the world’s output. Conducted by researchers at Aalto University, the research assessed how future changes in temperature, precipitation, and aridity could affect growing conditions for 30 essential food crops worldwide. The findings indicate that staple crops, such as rice, maize, wheat, potato, and soybean—responsible for over two-thirds of global food energy—are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures.
Regions closer to the equator will experience far more severe effects than those at mid- or high latitudes, with up to half of the crop production possibly at risk in low-latitude areas due to increasingly unfavorable climate conditions. This situation could lead to a considerable decline in crop diversity. Sara Heikonen, the leading researcher, highlighted the implications of this decline for food security, stating, “That would reduce food security and make it more difficult to get adequate calories and protein.”
Tropical root crops, such as yam, vital for food security in low-income areas, along with cereals and pulses, are notably susceptible to these changes. In sub-Saharan Africa, which faces the greatest risk, nearly 75% of current crop production may be endangered if global temperatures rise by more than 3°C. Conversely, mid- and high-latitude regions are expected to maintain productive agricultural land and may even see increased crop diversity, with the potential for new crops, such as pears, to flourish in northern climates.
Matti Kummu, the senior author of the study, remarked on the complexities introduced by climate change, noting that warmer conditions could lead to new pests and extreme weather events that may disrupt agriculture. Heikonen stressed the urgent need for both mitigation of climate change and adaptation to its impacts, emphasizing that, “If we want to secure our food system in the future, we need to both mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.” Heikonen further cautioned, “Even if the biggest changes are in equatorial regions, we will all feel the effects through the globalized food system. We need to act together to address these problems.”
The research highlights the urgent need for global action to address the impacts of climate change on food production. With low-latitude regions facing the greatest risk, the potential loss of crop diversity could compromise food security worldwide. Effective strategies for both mitigation and adaptation are vital to secure future food systems for all, given the interconnected nature of global agriculture.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
