Agriculture Provides Both Challenges and Solutions for Climate Change
by Gerald Nelson
December 10, 2009
If negotiators at the United Nations climate change meeting in Copenhagen want to be effective, they must address agricultural and land use practices.Agriculture, broadly defined, accounts for about one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. More sustainable, productive agricultural practices could contribute significantly to mitigation.
At the same time, the large majority of the world’s rural poor people depend on small-scale farming for their food and income. Poor famers are particularly threatened by climate change and will need support in adapting.
The recent food price crisis demonstrates that a “business as usual” approach to agriculture is not an option. Over the coming decades, it will be necessary to increase food production dramatically to respond to population growth, changing diets, and chronic malnutrition. The negative effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and natural resources will only intensify the food security challenge.
by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) found significant decreases in crop yields due to climate change. Without new technology and adjustments by farmers, climate change will reduce irrigated wheat yields in 2050 by around 30 percent in developing countries compared to a no-climate change scenario. Irrigated rice yields will fall by 15 percent. Reduced yields will lead to significantly higher prices, resulting in 25 million additional malnourished children in 2050, compared to a no-climate change scenario.
Fortunately there are many techniques available to that would allow agriculture to reduce GHG emissions and would increase farmers’ ability to adapt. Most of these strategies would also help small-scale farmers to improve their incomes and food security, and would be necessary even without climate change.
Whatever the outcome of the meetings in Copenhagen, funding must be made available to assist farmers adapt to climate change, as well as to mitigate its effects. Too much is at stake to allow this opportunity to slip by.
Gerald Nelson, a IFPRI senior research fellow, is available for interviews in Copenhagen.
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