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Boyce Thompson Institute: Climate Change Threatens Global Food Supply: Scientists Call for Urgent Action [View all]
https://btiscience.org/explore-bti/news/post/climate-change-threatens-global-food-supply-scientists-call-for-urgent-action/Climate Change Threatens Global Food Supply: Scientists Call for Urgent Action
by Aaron Callahan | Dec 5, 2024
As climate change accelerates, scientists are sounding the alarm about its potentially devastating impact on the world’s food supply. In a paper published by Trends in Plant Science, an international team of researchers warns that without rapid changes to how we develop climate-resilient crops, we could face widespread food shortages leading to famine, mass migration, and global instability.
“We’re in a race against time,” explained Silvia Restrepo, president of the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and one of the paper’s co-authors. “The crops we depend on for food are increasingly struggling to survive extreme weather, from heat waves to droughts and floods. Meanwhile, our current approaches to developing tougher, more resilient crops simply aren’t moving fast enough.”
The problem is complex: Not only are crops battling higher temperatures, but they’re also facing more frequent pest outbreaks and diseases. Even when plants survive these challenges, climate change can reduce their nutritional value. Adding to the urgency, agriculture itself contributes to about 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, creating a vicious cycle.
The researchers outline five key recommendations to address this crisis:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.11.001by Aaron Callahan | Dec 5, 2024
As climate change accelerates, scientists are sounding the alarm about its potentially devastating impact on the world’s food supply. In a paper published by Trends in Plant Science, an international team of researchers warns that without rapid changes to how we develop climate-resilient crops, we could face widespread food shortages leading to famine, mass migration, and global instability.
“We’re in a race against time,” explained Silvia Restrepo, president of the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and one of the paper’s co-authors. “The crops we depend on for food are increasingly struggling to survive extreme weather, from heat waves to droughts and floods. Meanwhile, our current approaches to developing tougher, more resilient crops simply aren’t moving fast enough.”
The problem is complex: Not only are crops battling higher temperatures, but they’re also facing more frequent pest outbreaks and diseases. Even when plants survive these challenges, climate change can reduce their nutritional value. Adding to the urgency, agriculture itself contributes to about 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, creating a vicious cycle.
The researchers outline five key recommendations to address this crisis:
- Create global research initiatives that bring together scientists from developed and developing nations to share resources and expertise
- Study plants in real-world conditions rather than just in controlled laboratory settings
- Establish stronger partnerships between laboratory scientists and farmers
- Build public trust and acceptance of new crop development technologies
- Streamline regulations to speed up the implementation of innovative solutions