Climate Change and Farming: How Not to Go Hungry in a Warmer World

Climate change – caused at least in part by human’s reliance on fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide – is disrupting delivery of food to the world’s 7 billion people. Scientists contend that the agriculture industry must start adapting now to a warmer climate and changes in rainfall. “Warming isn't the only threat to our ability to feed ourselves — it acts in concert with rising population, the growing demand for grain and water-intensive meat, and the civil dysfunction and conflict that often frustrates poor farmers in the developing world,” writes Bryan Walsh for Time magazine, referring to Somalia as an example. “That's why scientists are calling for more integrated research as the first step to adapting agriculture to climate change, to ensure that farmers know what's coming — and that they can prepare for it.” Researchers warn that methods for adaptation will vary for every region and community as climate patterns continue to change. And they also warn that many methods will be costly. – YaleGlobal