I warn study New that global warming endangers a large part of the production of world food, with areas with a low lines offered to the most serious consequences.
In the study, which was published on March third in the magazine “Nature Food”, the authors discussed the height of temperatures, changes in precipitation and the increase in drought on the culture of 30 main food crops in the world.
“The loss of diversity means fewer options for agriculture, which can reduce food security and limit access to calories and basic proteins,” explains the main study researcher, Sarah Hekonin, doctoral researcher in the Department of Environmental Construction of Alto University in Finland, in declarations in Al -jazeera Net.
According to the study, half of agricultural areas in tropical areas can become unimportant if temperatures continue to increase. These areas will also suffer from a sharp decrease in the diversity of cultures, which threatens food security and makes it difficult for the population to obtain basic nutrients.
Basic crops are in danger
The study stresses that global warming will lead to a significant decrease in agricultural land appropriate for basic crops such as rice, corn, wheat, potatoes and soybeans.
These crops provide more than two thirds of global food energy. Tropical radicular crops, such as yam, which is a basic food security source in many low -income countries, is among the most affected.
“In sub-Saharan Africa, which will be the most affected, almost three-quarters of current food production could become in danger if temperatures exceed 3 degrees Celsius,” said Heikoon, noting that the countries of North Africa and the Middle East in the Sahara will be among the most affected areas of climate change.
On the other hand, areas with medium and high latitudes, such as certain parts of North America, Europe and Russia, can maintain their agricultural production and can even attend an expansion of their culture. However, the types of cultivated crops will change because moderate fruits such as pear can become more common in northern regions with changing climatic conditions.
The researcher notes that although certain areas can attend an improvement in the climatic conditions of agriculture, climate change leads to other challenges.
“Our study shows that there are agricultural capacities in certain regions, but there are other factors such as the spread of new lesions and extremist air phenomena which may present major threats, as explained by Hikonin.
A global problem requires a unified response
In addition, many countries of low latitudes are already suffering from lack of food, economic instability and deficiency in agricultural resources.
The study recommends the need to improve access to fertilizers and irrigation and store food to reduce some of these risks. But according to the researcher, long -term solutions will require significant changes in policies and investments in climate adaptation strategies.
“In many tropical fields, culture productivity is much lower than in other areas with similar climatic conditions. Productivity can be improved thanks to better agricultural techniques and advanced infrastructure, but climate change adds more challenges, which requires additional measures, such as the choice of more resistant crops and the improvement of crossed methods,” said Hekonin.
Although the most dangerous effects of climate change on food production occur in tropical areas, the study confirms that the global diet is interconnected. High temperatures, extremist air phenomena and the change of agricultural areas will affect all food prices, supply and international trade chains.
“If we want to ensure our global diet, we must take urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing conditions. Even if the most important impacts in tropical areas, we will all feel their repercussions through the global food markets. This is a problem that forces us to work together to confront them.”