Food crops affected by global warming
A new study, undertaken by the Carnegie Institution, California, has revealed the impact of global warming on the yield of some of the most important food crops in the world.
Between 1981 and 2002, the study found that rising temperatures had contributed to a fall of almost 40 million tons per year in the production of wheat, corn and barley.
While 40 million tons are an insignificant amount compared to the annual total world-wide production, Christopher Field, the lead scientist on the project, commented that this indicated how climate change was already impacting food production and would continue to do so in the future.
The research team analysed six of the most widely grown crops (wheat, rice, maize, soybeans, barley and sorghum), and found that during the last quarter century crop yields fell with 3-5% for every 0.5C increase in temperature.
"The research shows that climate trends have a negative impact on global crop yields across all regions," said Professor Field.
23rd March 2007
