A new study in the U.K. has shown that heat waves can cause significant damage to food crops and threaten global food supply if climate change is not addressed and dealt with. Researchers at the University of East Anglia studied the effects that extreme temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels have on wheat, maize and soybean production, according to NDTV.
In a scenario where emissions of greenhouse gases continue, earlier studies found that climate change would reduce global maize yields by the end of the century. Heat waves were not included earlier calculations and could double the crop lose, NDTV reported.
"Instances of extreme temperatures, brought about by a large increase in global mean temperature, can be detrimental to crops at any stage of their development but in particular around anthesis- the flowering period of the plant," said Delphine Deryng, lead scientist from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the university.
Wheat and soybean were expected to be effected less due to increased CO2 leading to effects of fertilization, the Guardian reported. Researchers said that both crops would likely increase through the 21st Century with "business-as-usual emissions", but heat waves would erode the crops significantly.
Some of the most affected areas, such as the North American maize corn belts, are important for crop production. When the researchers didn't include the CO2 fertilization effects, they found a net decrease in yields in the three crops for the top-five producing countries of each crop due to serious heat stress, NDTV reported.
"Our results show that maize yields are expected to be negatively affected by climate change, while the impacts on wheat and soybean are generally positive, unless CO2 fertilization effects have been overestimated," Deryng said.
Deryng addressed the harm that the "business-as-usual" model will cause to the crops and the actions needed to be taken to ensure the safety of global food supply, the Guardian reported.
"Climate mitigation policy would help reduce risks of serious negative impacts on maize worldwide and reduce risks of extreme heat stress that threaten global crop production," Deryng said.
