Crop Impacts
How Does Climate Change Affect Crops?
Climate change poses a significant physical risk to agriculture and crop production worldwide. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, agricultural systems are increasingly vulnerable to a range of climate-related challenges. Higher temperatures can lead to heat stress in crops, affecting their growth and yield. Changes in precipitation patterns, including more frequent and severe droughts or floods, can disrupt planting and harvest seasons, reduce crop quality, and impact food security. Additionally, the increased occurrence of extreme weather events such as storms and wildfires can cause direct damage to agricultural infrastructure and disrupt supply chains. Changes in temperature and humidity can also create favorable conditions for the proliferation of pests and diseases, posing a direct threat to crops. Furthermore, shifts in climate can alter the geographic distribution of crops, impacting the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. The physical risks associated with climate change in agriculture underscore the urgency of implementing adaptive and resilient agricultural practices, investing in climate-smart technologies, and developing strategies to safeguard global food production in a changing climate.
