Climate change is currently a hot topic on the international stage due to various factors. Climate change is defined as the “significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer” (UCDAVIS, 2020).
Human activities are a major contributor to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) to deforestation. It critical to note that greenhouse gases are produced naturally and play an important role in protecting the earth’s ecosystem (Climate Change, 2020). However, industrialization has resulted in the unnatural production of an excessive amount of greenhouse gases that are causing major problems such as an increase in global temperature, rising sea-level, change in the weather pattern, and loss of biodiversity. The most abundant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide which is one of the by-products of burning fossil fuels.
Global food security is threatened by climate change through changing weather patterns. Also, the world demand for agricultural products is expected to increase by around 50% by 2030 (Science of the Total Environment 2019). This will be due to the world population reaching 9 billion people. There will be a 70% increase in food production between 2005 and 2050. Therefore, the GHG emission related to agricultural activities will increase by 30%.
A higher level of carbon dioxide can increase plant growth. However; changing temperatures, depleting ozone, water, and nutrients constraints can adversely affect crops (Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply 2016). Additionally, extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Droughts are more severe due to climate change and irrigation in some places is not feasible to sustain agricultural activities. There are weeds, pests, and fungi that can thrive under the changing weather condition making farming more complicated. Heatwaves, drought, severe storms, and increasing prevalence of parasites are issues for livestock’s rearing.
Climate change can significantly affect agriculture by creating conditions that make it more difficult for crops and livestock’s to thrive.
Reference
Climate Change Terms and Definitions. (2020, May 08). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/science/climate-change-definitions/
Un.org. 2020. Climate Change. [online] Available at: <https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/> [Accessed 30 September 2020].
Science of the Total Environment. (2019, October 09). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment/editors-choice/focus-on-climate-change-impacts-on-agriculture-water-wildfir
Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply. (2016, October 06). Retrieved September 30, 2020, from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply_.html
Science Zone Jamaica 