Global warming will change where crops are grown

Photo by: NicolasMcComber / iStock

Global warming could turn what was once a cold and unproductive land into a horn of plenty. At the same time, climate change has the potential to do great harm to the regions that feed millions today. Thus the coming decades will change the geography of grain crops, says The Economist.

A study by scientists at Cornell University has shown that agriculture reacts extremely sensitively to rising temperatures. That is, each additional rising fraction of a degree causes more damage to food production than the previous one. This is particularly worrying for farmers in already warm regions.

Another study predicts that for each degree rise in global temperature, average yields in maize will fall by 7.4%, in wheat by 6% and in rice by 3.2%. These three crops provide about 2/3 of all calories consumed by humans

The article also cites the example of Russia, where the national climate change action plan proposes, among other things, to take advantage of global warming for agriculture. For example, since 2015, it is Russia that has become the world’s largest producer of wheat, mainly because of higher temperatures. In addition, thousands of kilometres of land in the Far East, which was once unproductive, are now being rented out for soy cultivation.

Climate change is not only reflected in rising temperatures but also changes in precipitation patterns, which can have a negative impact on farming in northern regions. Some areas may face drought, while others will suffer from excessive rainfall. In addition, as temperatures rise, not only the volume of agricultural structures increases, but also the pathogens that could not withstand the cold winters. This, in turn, can affect the food quality of northern regions.

It is clear that the agricultural sector needs to adapt to climate change. Measures could include protecting crops from harsh weather conditions, developing new irrigation systems and, most importantly, reducing the amount of food that is wasted.

Cover photo: Marccophoto / iStock