- Palestinians welcome ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials
- Senegal ruling party wins parliamentary majority: provisional results
- Fiji's Loganimasi in for banned Radradra against Ireland
- Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot
- NFL issues security alert to teams about home burglaries
- Common water disinfectant creates potentially toxic byproduct: study
- Chimps are upping their tool game, says study
- US actor Smollett's conviction for staged attack overturned
- Fears rise of gender setbacks in global climate battle
- 'World's best coach' Gatland 'won't leave Wales' - Howley
- Indian PM Modi highlights interest in Guyana's oil
- Israel strikes kill 22 in Lebanon as Hezbollah targets south Israel
- Argentina lead Davis Cup holders Italy
- West Bank city buries three Palestinians killed in Israeli raids
- Fairuz, musical icon of war-torn Lebanon, turns 90
- Jones says Scotland need to beat Australia 'to be taken seriously'
- Stock markets push higher but Ukraine tensions urge caution
- IMF sees 'limited' impact of floods on Spain GDP growth
- Volkswagen workers head towards strikes from December
- 'More cautious' Dupont covers up in heavy Parisian snow before Argentina Test
- UK sanctions Angola's Isabel dos Santos in graft crackdown
- Sales of existing US homes rise in October
- Crunch time: What still needs to be hammered out at COP29?
- Spurs boss Postecoglou hails 'outstanding' Bentancur despite Son slur
- South Sudan rejects 'malicious' report on Kiir family businesses
- Australia defeat USA to reach Davis Cup semis
- Spain holds 1st talks with Palestinian govt since recognising state
- Returning Vonn targets St Moritz World Cup races
- Ramos nears PSG return as Sampaoli makes Rennes bow
- Farrell hands Prendergast first Ireland start for Fiji Test
- Famed Berlin theatre says cuts will sink it
- Stuttgart's Undav set to miss rest of year with hamstring injury
- Cane, Perenara to make All Blacks farewells against Italy
- Kenya scraps Adani deals as Ruto attempts to reset presidency
- French YouTuber takes on manga after conquering Everest
- Special reunion in store for France's Flament against 'hot-blooded' Argentina
- 'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
- Fritz pulls USA level with Australia in Davis Cup quarters
- New Iran censure looms large over UN nuclear meeting
- The first 'zoomed-in' image of a star outside our galaxy
- ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif
- Minister among 11 held over Serbia station collapse
- Historic gold regalia returned to Ghana's king
- Kyiv accuses Russia of launching intercontinental ballistic missile attack
- Leicester's Fatawu to miss rest of season after Ghana injury
- High-flying Bayern face injury woes as crucial phase looms
- Verstappen cool on F1 championship hopes in Vegas
- Australia's Kokkinakis beats USA's Shelton in Davis Cup thriller
- Two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee retires
- Nationalist raves galvanise traumatised Ukrainian youth
Climate change: A farm in Rotterdam
An overview of the issue of climate change and its effects on agriculture?
Climate change is no longer just a future threat, but a present reality that is already having a significant impact on agriculture worldwide. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and an increase in extreme weather events pose immense challenges for farmers and threaten
The global average temperature has increased by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. This warming is leading to changes in the growing conditions for many crops. Some plant species are sensitive to higher temperatures, which can lead to reduced yields and quality losses. For example, grain filling can be affected in
Changing precipitation patterns and water scarcity
Climate change also affects precipitation patterns, leading to droughts in some regions and flooding in others. Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly pressing problem, especially in areas of intensive agricultural use. Without sufficient irrigation, plants suffer from drought stress, which inhibits growth and reduces yields. On the other hand, heavy rainfall and flooding
Increase in extreme weather events
More frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heat waves, storms and frost periods are having a significant impact on agricultural production. Such events can destroy entire harvests, damage infrastructure and have long-term effects on soil fertility. Farmers have to adapt to unpredictable weather conditions, which makes
Spread of pests and diseases
With rising temperatures and changing climate conditions, pests and plant diseases are also spreading into new areas. Insects, fungi and viruses that were previously limited by climatic conditions can now infest larger areas. This increases the demand for pesticides and poses additional challenges for organic farming.
Impacts on animal husbandry
Livestock farming is also affected by climate change. Heat stresses farm animals and can lead to reduced growth, lower milk production and increased mortality rates. In addition, climate change affects the availability of forage crops and water, which makes animal husbandry even more difficult.
Adapting cultivation practices: Crop rotation, conservation tillage and the use of cover crops can maintain soil fertility and increase resilience to extreme weather.
Breeding climate-resistant varieties: Developing plants that can better cope with heat, drought or flooding is crucial for future food security.
Efficient irrigation systems: Technologies such as drip irrigation reduce water consumption and help to use water more efficiently.
Early warning systems: Weather forecasts and warning systems can help farmers to be better prepared for extreme weather events.
Diversification: Diversifying crops and income sources helps farmers to better cushion risks.
Policy support and global cooperation
Tackling the effects of climate change on agriculture requires policy support and international cooperation. Investments in research and development, education, and infrastructure are necessary to support farmers in their adaptation efforts. Furthermore, it is important to reduce global emissions to mitigate further climate change.
Conclusion
Climate change poses a serious threat to agriculture and global food security. However, the effects can be mitigated through proactive adaptation measures, innovation and political support. It is crucial to act now to safeguard agriculture for future generations and ensure the sustainable nutrition of the world's population.