Impact of climate change on food production and food security

Abstract

Climate change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, gradually altering ecosystems and threatening global food production and access to nutritious food. With global temperatures rising by an average of 0.18°C per decade over the past four decades, increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane, are driving climatic variability that affects plants, animals, and human livelihoods. This review aims to examine how climate change alters food production systems and compromises food security, with a focus on the populations most vulnerable to these impacts. Findings indicate that rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events contribute to reduced crop yields, degraded soil quality, compromised supply chains, and heightened risk of food shortages. These effects intensify malnutrition, elevate mortality rates, and may lead to long-term population decline in severely affected regions. The review highlights the need for urgent adaptation strategies, including climate-resilient agricultural practices, improved resource management, and targeted policy interventions to protect at-risk communities.