10.1 Impacts on agriculture and food security

Climate change is reshaping agriculture worldwide. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are altering crop yields and growing seasons. These changes impact food security by affecting availability, access, and quality of food supplies.

Adapting to these challenges requires innovative strategies. Farmers are diversifying crops, adopting conservation techniques, and leveraging technology like precision agriculture. These approaches aim to enhance resilience and maintain food production in a changing climate.

Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture

Temperature and Precipitation Effects

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Top images from around the web for Temperature and Precipitation Effects

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  How we can link some extreme weather to climate change | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne View original

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  Extreme weather: Why the impact will be felt more widely | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne View original

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• Altered temperature and precipitation patterns directly impact crop growth cycles and productivity
  • Increased temperatures accelerate crop development potentially reducing yields in some regions
  • Shortened growing seasons in warmer areas lead to decreased crop yields (wheat in India)
  • Extended growing seasons in cooler regions allow cultivation of new crops (grapes in southern England)
• Extreme weather events become more frequent and intense
  • Droughts, floods, and heatwaves lead to crop failures and reduced agricultural output
  • Severe droughts in California (2011-2017) resulted in significant losses in fruit and nut production
• Atmospheric CO2 concentration changes affect plant physiology
  • Increased CO2 potentially boosts productivity for some C3 plants (wheat, rice, soybeans)
  • Altered crop nutritional quality occurs due to faster growth and reduced nutrient uptake

Pest, Disease, and Water Availability Challenges

• Shifts in pest and disease distributions pose new crop protection challenges
  • Warmer temperatures allow pests to survive in previously inhospitable regions
  • Coffee berry borer expanded range threatens coffee production in East Africa
• Water availability for irrigation affected by changing precipitation patterns
  • Increased evapotranspiration rates impact crop yields in water-stressed regions
  • Reduced snowpack in mountains decreases summer water availability for agriculture (Western United States)
• Climate change-induced alterations affect soil fertility and long-term productivity
  • Changes in soil moisture, erosion rates, and nutrient cycling occur
  • Increased soil erosion due to intense rainfall events leads to loss of fertile topsoil

Food Security and Climate Variability

Impacts on Food Security Pillars

• Climate variability affects all four pillars of food security
  • Availability: Fluctuations in crop yields and production
  • Access: Price volatility and disrupted supply chains
  • Utilization: Changes in nutritional content and food safety
  • Stability: Increased uncertainty in food production and distribution
• Increased climate variability leads to greater food price fluctuations
  • Exacerbates food insecurity for vulnerable populations
  • 2010 Russian heat wave led to wheat export ban and global price spikes
• Extreme weather events disrupt food supply chains
  • Affects food distribution and access, particularly in developing countries
  • Hurricane Maria in 2017 severely damaged Puerto Rico's agricultural sector

Nutritional and Regional Impacts

• Climate-induced changes in crop nutritional content contribute to hidden hunger
  • Decreased protein and micronutrient levels in some crops
  • Elevated CO2 levels reduce zinc and iron content in staple crops (rice, wheat)
• Shifting agricultural zones lead to regional food shortages
  • Changing crop suitability patterns cause nutritional imbalances
  • Northward shift of corn production in the United States alters regional food systems
• Climate variability impacts livestock productivity and fisheries
  • Affects availability of animal-source proteins and essential nutrients
  • Ocean acidification threatens shellfish populations and marine food webs
• Compounding effects on water quality and quantity increase waterborne diseases
  • Compromises food utilization and nutrition
  • Increased flooding events contaminate water sources and spread pathogens

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change

Crop and Soil Management Strategies

• Crop diversification reduces vulnerability to specific climate stressors
  • Improves overall agricultural resilience
  • Planting drought-tolerant varieties alongside traditional crops (sorghum with maize in East Africa)
• Conservation agriculture techniques enhance soil health and water retention
  • Minimum tillage and crop rotation improve crop performance
  • No-till farming in the Brazilian Cerrado reduces soil erosion and increases water infiltration
• Climate-smart agriculture practices help farmers adapt to shifting seasonal patterns
  • Adjusted planting dates and improved crop sequencing maximize productivity
  • Shifting rice planting dates in Vietnam to avoid peak flood periods

Technological and System-level Adaptations

• Precision agriculture optimizes resource use under changing conditions
  • Smart farming technologies enable adaptive management practices
  • Variable rate irrigation systems adjust water application based on real-time soil moisture data
• Efficient irrigation and water management strategies conserve water resources
  • Maintain crop productivity in water-stressed regions
  • Drip irrigation in Israel achieves up to 95% water use efficiency in arid conditions
• Agroforestry and integrated crop-livestock systems increase farm diversity
  • Provide multiple ecosystem services and enhance resilience to climate shocks
  • Silvopastoral systems in Latin America combine trees, forage, and cattle production
• Early warning systems and climate information services enable informed decision-making
  • Help farmers mitigate climate-related risks
  • FEWS NET provides timely alerts on potential food insecurity in vulnerable regions

Technology for Agricultural Resilience

Genetic and Environmental Control Innovations

• Genetic engineering develops crop varieties with enhanced stress tolerance
  • Advanced breeding techniques create heat, drought, and pest-resistant crops
  • Bt cotton reduces pesticide use and improves yields in India despite climate variability
• Vertical farming allows year-round crop production with reduced climate vulnerability
  • Controlled environment agriculture technologies optimize growing conditions
  • AeroFarms in New Jersey produces leafy greens using 95% less water than traditional farming
• Nanotechnology applications improve resource use efficiency
  • Nanofertilizers and nanopesticides enhance crop protection under changing conditions
  • Zinc oxide nanoparticles improve drought tolerance in maize

Data-driven and Supply Chain Technologies

• Remote sensing provides real-time data on crop health and environmental conditions
  • Satellite imaging enables precise and timely interventions
  • NASA's SMAP mission monitors global soil moisture to improve agricultural forecasting
• Artificial intelligence analyzes complex climate and agricultural data
  • Machine learning algorithms provide predictive insights and decision support
  • IBM's Watson Decision Platform for Agriculture predicts crop yields and disease outbreaks
• Blockchain technology enhances agricultural supply chain traceability
  • Improves food safety and reduces waste amid climate-related disruptions
  • Walmart uses blockchain to trace the origin of mangoes in seconds, reducing food waste
• Precision irrigation systems optimize water use efficiency
  • Smart sensors maintain productivity in water-scarce regions
  • CropX sensors in New Zealand reduce water usage by up to 20% while maintaining yields