How will crops be affected by climate change?
Temperature changes, rainfall distribution and water availability will directly affect productivity. These conditions will also impact the habits of pollinators, pests, disease vectors and invasive species distribution. Pests and diseases are likely to move to areas that were previously immune or unaffected. These areas might be less prepared, both biologically as well as institutionally, to manage and control them; creating potentially even higher negative impacts.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has tracked crop yields for the past 2 years. The negative effects of climate change have been more common than positive effects and the likelihood of occurrence of extreme weather events increased. Low-latitude countries appear (with high confidence) to have crop production consistently and negatively affected. Northern latitude regions may have positive or negative effects. Soil quality and water availability might constrain increased production in these in high-latitude regions.
How do livestock influence climate change?
The livestock sector plays an important role in climate change — representing 14.5% of all human-induced emissions. Of that, a whooping 61% is contributed by cattle; 41% by beef cattle and 20% by dairy farming! Pork production represents 9% of livestock sector emissions, while poultry meat & eggs contribute another 8%. The remainder is contributed by buffalo and small ruminants.
The production & processing of feed for beef cattle represents 45% of the sector emissions. Otherwise, methane from rumination plays an important role in the creation of emissions. Enteric fermentation (burps and other gases ) represents 39% of emissions while another 10% is released through manure storage & processing. Less than 6% of total emissions are created through the processing, packaging and transportation of beef products.
Emissions in the livestock sector could be reduced by 18-30% if producers adopted the practices already applied by the 10-25% of producers with the lowest emission intensity. Improved feeding practices and better health & herd management practices would simultaneously reduce emissions and increase productivity.
What is the interaction between climate change, deforestation and agriculture?
Agricultural expansion is recognized as a major driver of forest loss in the tropics. It is estimated that at least 90% of deforested land was driven by agriculture, but only about half of that was converted into productive agricultural land.
In addition, evidence shows that in various regions, climate change is contributing to decreased productivity & dieback of trees from drought & temperature stress, increased wind & water erosion, increased storm damage, increased frequency of forest fires, pest & disease outbreaks, landslides & avalanches, changes in ranges of forest plants & animals, inundation & flood damage, saltwater intrusion & sea- level rise and damage from coastal storms.
Not only does deforestation limit carbon sequestration, but the resiliency of agricultural systems is threatened by the loss of habitat of important species (such as pollinators). Forests also contribute to temperature and water regulation at the landscape level. All of these biospheric systems interact to contribute to climate regulation.
