A study suggests, vegetables could lost in 2050 as a result of climate change

News24xx.com -  Research has indicated that raised levels of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas in the atmosphere might decrease crop yields. 

But the study that funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of its Our Planet, Our Health programme, whose led by Dr Howie Frumkin, says in 2050 vegetables could be in short supply in water shortage and loss of biodiversity. Global average yields of vegetables is predicted to be reduced to 35% and legumes such as soy beans and lentils to 9% as a result of climate change.

Lead scientist Dr Pauline Scheelbeek  from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said, "Our study shows that environmental changes such as increased temperature and water scarcity may pose a real threat to global agricultural production, with likely further impacts on food security and population health."

Based on a systematic review of evidence in 1975, the researchers reviewed experimental work in 40 countries looking at the effects of altered environmental conditions on the yield and quality of vegetables.

They then estimated the future impact of key factors influencing crop production, including increased levels of greenhouse gases, reduced availability of water for irrigation, and rising temperatures. 

Vegetables and legumes are vital components of a healthy, balanced and sustainable diet and nutritional guidelines consistently advise people to incorporate more vegetables and legumes into their diet. 

New crop varieties and improvements in agriculture and mechanisation are urgently needed to protect vegetable supplies.

The team writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Professor Alan Dangour, also from LSHTM, said environmental changes will substantially reduce the global availability of these important foods. And urgent action needs to be taken, including working to support the agriculture sector to increase its resilience to environmental changes and must be a priority for governments across the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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