IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY, ITS CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATION

Authors

  • Florence Ngozi Uchendu Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Causes, Climate-Change, Consequences, Food Insecurity, Mitigation

Abstract

Food insecurity is a global public health concern and is being aggravated by climate-change. This paper discussed the impact of climate-change on food-security, its consequences and mitigation. Keywords such as “climate-change”, “food-security”, “food insecurity”, “causes”, “consequences” and “mitigation strategies” were searched for on Google and other climate-change-related journals. Climate-change is caused by methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the use of coal for heating, deforestation, landfills for garbage, energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use, gas flaring, vehicle and generator fumes. Climate-change has both positive and negative effects on food-security. It increased the suitability of some countries for growing cereal crops but reduced crop productivity in some. It reduced cereal yields, production and nutrient content of fruits and vegetables, low food crop quality, quantity and safety, reduced shellfish productivity, crop and livestock losses, food animals and overall milk production, induced food shortage, nutrient scarcity and low food diversity, high cost of food leading to poor food availability, accessibility and utilisation causing global and national hunger thus precipitating malnutrition. Mitigation includes the use of irrigation, flood protection of farmlands and crops, modifying/improving farming practices, breeding crops more resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses, diversification, reduction of food losses and wastage, consumption of planet-healthy diets, efficient use of climate data and forecasts and control of pests. Climate-change is one of the key factors in food insecurity. Establishment of climate-change policies, a sustainable food system, and resilient strategies to discourage environmental pollution, production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions is crucial.

 

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Published

2024-12-16

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Section

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