As the earth warms, weather patterns become less predictable. This has an astonishing effect on agriculture. In the U.S., as around the world, impacts vary by region. In the northern plains, crop production increases due to a longer growing season while in the southeast coastal regions crops are negatively affected. Recent studies show that crop losses for maize in Southern Africa could be as much as 30% by 2030. This will have devastating impacts for people in this region who get much of their food from subsistence farming. In South Asia many crops have a more than 75% chance of incurring losses. Work must start soon to help these and other farmers make the necessary adaptations. We, as a global community, must help people in danger of food insecurity to prepare for the future by increasing their current yields and switching to more appropriate crops.
As the earth warms, weather patterns become less predictable. This has an astonishing effect on agriculture. In the U.S., as around the world, impacts vary by region. In the northern plains, crop production increases due to a longer growing season while in the southeast coastal regions crops are negatively affected. Recent studies show that crop losses for maize in Southern Africa could be as much as 30% by 2030. This will have devastating impacts for people in this region who get much of their food from subsistence farming. In South Asia many crops have a more than 75% chance of incurring losses. Work must start soon to help these and other farmers make the necessary adaptations. We, as a global community, must help people in danger of food insecurity to prepare for the future by increasing their current yields and switching to more appropriate crops. 