The greatest single fear about global warming for many is that climate change could so destabilize the world’s food system as to lead to rising hunger or even mass starvation. Two weeks ago, a leaked draft of a report by the United Nations climate committee suggested that the group’s concerns have grown, and that the report, scheduled for release in March, is likely to warn sharply about risks to the food supply. New research suggests that rising heat stress in some major growing areas is already putting a drag on production, and it raises the possibility of much more serious effects as global warming continues. The good news is that agriculture has a tremendous capacity to adapt to new conditions, including a warming climate. Crops can be planted earlier, and new varieties that are more resistant to climate stress can be developed. But experts say the research needed to make all this happen is getting short shrift.
Source: New York Times, 11/11/13, Climate Change Warnings
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