World Grain - November 2007 - 59

FEATURE: GLOBAL WARMING COULD RESHAPE GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

oped ways of coping with variations
in climate, but it may not be enough to
handle what is coming in the future, the
IPCC said. "Agricultural production
and food security (including access to
food) in many African countries and regions are likely to be severely compromised by climate change and climate
variability," it said.
"A number of countries in Africa
already face semi-arid conditions that
make agriculture challenging, and climate change will likely reduce the
length of the growing season as well as
force large regions of marginal agriculture out of production," it said. "Projected reductions in yield in some countries could be as much as 50% by 2020,
and crop net revenues could fall by as
much as 90% by 2100, with small-scale
farmers being the most affected. This
would adversely affect food security in
the continent."

stresses on water supply and agriculture, changed natural ecosystems, reduced seasonal snow cover, and glacier
shrinkage," it said.
In New Zealand, the IPCC expected
the CO2 response to more than compensate for a moderate increase in temperature for crops like wheat.
Australia is likely to see regional

ASIA
In Asia, future climate change is
likely to affect agriculture, risk of hunger and water resource scarcity with
enhanced climate variability and more
rapid melting of glaciers, it said.
"About 2.5% to 10% decrease in crop
yield is projected for parts of Asia in
the 2020s and a 5% to 30% decrease
in the 2050s compared with 1990 levels
without CO2 effects," it said. "Freshwater availability in Central, South
and Southeast Asia, particularly in
large river basins such as Changjiang,
is likely to decrease due to climate
change, along with population growth
and rising standard of living that could
adversely affect more than 1 billion
people in Asia by the 2050s.
"An additional 49 million, 132 million and 266 million people of Asia
could be at risk of hunger by 2020,
2050 and 2080, respectively," it said.
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
According to the IPCC, Australia and
New Zealand are already experiencing
impacts from recent climate change.
"These are now evident in increasing

variations. "Southwestern Australian
regions are likely to have significant
yield reductions by 2070," it said. "In
contrast, regions in northeastern Australia are likely to have moderate increases in yield." IPCC projects a fall
in the median yield.
But there is the potential for Australia
to adapt "Adaptation through changing

For you to
produce high-quality
food products,

we always
focus on
our part.
,

Y_D a
h

Enrichment Additives
Dough Conditioners
Bleaching Agents
Easy 20lb Packaging
Ingredient Feeders
Dispensing Equipment
Since 1946

3
�
Research
Products
Company
A Division of McShares Inc.

k. �

i
Visit our website for a complete list of products:
www.researchprod.com
P.O. Box 1460 · Salina, Kansas 67402-1460
(785) 825-2181 · Fax: (785) 825-8908
f
info@researchprod.com
�
MM
11 v e R
�
�
�° Y, x
zM
:
4i 4 E'
;
e :S h`�
-lt .
u� .
�
..ti;
For more information, see Page 90.

www.World-Grain.com / World Grain / November 2007

http://www.researchprod.com http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - November 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - November 2007