Can crops be climate-proofed? : Africa's Sahel region will produce fewer crops as a result of climate change
Document type: article
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Abstract:
Climate change threatens food crops across the world. Now scientists are re-focusing their efforts on crop resilience, rather than yields. Among the most worrying aspects of climate change is its effects on the world’s food supply. The worst-case scenario is stark: Africa’s Sahel region will produce fewer cereals, rice cultivation in Asia will be under threat, there will be fewer vegetables – with potatoes and beans potentially wiped out – and livestock and fisheries will be severely stressed. Climate change is making crop scientists review their research agenda. Until now, their main focus was on improving yields. But with successive International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports warning that increased droughts and floods will shift crop systems, ‘climate-proofing’ of crops has become crucial. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) institutes are now investigating how to make crops’ more resilient to environment stresses.
Authors:
Padma, T.V.
Category:
General
End Page:
12
Serial number:
1
ISSN:
1824-7180
Volume:
II
Journal:
SpandaNews : newsletter of the Spanda Foundation
Keywords:
environment
,
food
,
nutrition
,
agriculture
Language:
eng
Organization:
Spanda Foundation
Year:
2008
Right:
© 2008 Spanda Foundation
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Start Page:
10
Title:
Can crops be climate-proofed? : Africa's Sahel region will produce fewer crops as a result of climate change