How Climate Change is Wiping Out Agriculture

After almost two decades of global hunger rates declining, they are on the rise again and the explanation is simple: climate change. However, there are still so many people around the world who are doubting the severity, here’s why.

Depending on where you live and the kinds of resources you have available to you, the exposure you will have to the effects of climate change will vary. We’re seeing uncharacteristic weather shifts that no longer align with what used to be seen during certain times of the year but not everybody is seeing how detrimental these weather shifts can be when it comes to agriculture and food security... yet.

Half of all inhabitable land on the earth is taken up by agriculture. Whether it be for human consumption or to feed livestock that are for human consumption, we have put immeasurable amounts of resources into our agricultural systems. However, we are now seeing that system begin to crumble as our climate changes.

How Farmers Are Impacted By Climate Change

Regardless of where in the world a crop is being grown, it needs to be planted at a different time of year to align with the shifts in weather. This ensures the amount of water, sun, and heat the field is getting is appropriate.

With unpredictable weather (or more drastic shifts in weather) crops are not having their needs met and worst case, they do not grow due to inadequate conditions. But say the crop does take and is growing, with prolonged seasons comes prolonged lifespans of insects and more time for new bugs to migrate and eat through crops that they should not have been alive for long enough to see. This not only causes direct damage of the crops from being eaten, but also spreads bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can create disease in the plant.

The longer these insects are able to survive, the further they can travel and the more they can impact plant life. This completely throws off the lifecycle of not only farmed crops but the composition and health of the natural plant life in the area! As the time gap between season changes continues to get longer and more unpredictable, insects eating through crops and bringing disease to fields will cause major food insecurity.

While we often think this is an issue that’s only impacting rural and less developed areas, it’s affecting the entire globe.

Worldwide Food Insecurity

It all starts with small farmers. Our supply of fresh foods comes from all over the world and is constantly in transit to supply countries with the widest variety of food as possible. So while some first world countries are not feeling the farming impact as heavily as smaller and less developed countries, the entire world will be feeling the decrease in global crop output. Simply put, if one country or region is struggling to produce, the entire world will be impacted by that shortage.

This issue is important to be stressing right now while we still have time to implement more innovative solutions and take control over the impact we’re having on the earth. If we continue waiting, we will get to the point where much of the planet is starving and we will not be able to implement global solutions and efforts quickly enough to keep populations alive.

Action to Take Today

While it can be hard to make a direct impact on the farmers who are struggling around the world at this time, there are several ways to combat climate change simply by making our voices heard and choosing more climate conscious consumer habits.

First, large companies Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle are the top three polluters in the world. With plastic pollution comes emissions that greatly impact the climate. Unfortunately, these major polluters refuse to make change from the inside, which is where policy has to come in. By passing legislature that forces companies like these as well as other big players in climate change like the big oil companies to alter their methods, we can make huge strides towards curbing the impacts of climate change.

Every individual swap and action we take matters, but until we get large companies to join us in the fight for a stable climate we will continue running out of time and manpower. Now is the time to be pushing for climate policy! Regardless of your citizenship, contact your local and federal government officials to demand change. Here is a way to get started…

Sign on to Tell Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé to stop fueling the climate crisis.

You can find more ways to take action through organizations like Greenpeace who put together action pages, check out all of the ways you can make your voice heard here.