Climate change threatens to undermine not only how much food can be grown but also the quality of that food as altered weather patterns lead to a less desirable harvest, according to a new study.
The American Council has been examining the effects of climate change on food for several months as part of a project chaired by former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.
Adaptation must begin now. Developing the necessary scientific breakthroughs and broadly disseminating them will require years, even decades of lead time.
"Plants and animal breeds will need to be developed to better withstand climate stresses such as higher temperatures and weather variability," it said.
"Crops that can use water more efficiently, grow in marginal conditions … have enhanced nutritional value and have higher yields will need to be developed. Plant and animal germplasm preservation for domesticated and wild species needs to be a priority," it said.
There also needs to be a massive outreach effort, according to the report, with farmers around the world — including those working in industrial-scale operations as well as those tending tiny community plots — being trained in how to most productively use their land amid the changing weather conditions.
"As temperatures rise, rainfall patterns change and variability increases, farmers will need to figure out what their new normal might become, and, in fact, whether change is the new normal," the report said.
