Impact of Climate Change on Food Systems: A Narrative Review

Abstract

In recent years it has become clear that climate change is an inevitable process in many parts of the world and has a negative impact on agriculture and food systems particularly in Sub-Saharan African countries. Climate change involves variations in temperature and precipitation across the globe. The environmental changes associated with climate change have a significant impact on the food supply chains food environments and food systems in general. These changes affect food production, storage, processing, marketing, availability, promotion, affordability and quality along the food value chain. Consequently, climate change affects global food security and peoples' income especially, in developing countries where the predominance of rain-fed agriculture in much of these countries results in food systems that are highly sensitive to rainfall and temperature variability. The narrative review aimed at evaluation of published literature to understand the impact of climate change on food systems across the globe. Literature search from 2000-2019 was carried out using key words and key phrases in Google search Engine. Elsevier agriculture journals, JSTOR journals, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Nature and Climate Change journals. More than 120 relevant publications were retrieved of which 44 were scrutinized and used for this publication. The study found that increased rainfall and temperature affect food availability, utilization, crop yields, food markets, food prices, consumption patterns and food insurance. The review recommended that all stakeholders should adopt relevant policies about climate change mitigation and adaptation options along different food value chains. This will enable farmers to produce sufficient food required to feed the projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 thus contributing to sustainable development goal number two: -End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

The Impact of Climate Change on National Security

“…Climate change affects the production, storage, processing, marketing, availability, promotion, accessibility, and quality of food along the entire value chain for essential commodities. According to Tumwesigye et al [11], all parties involved in these chains should adapt their own strategies and policies to mitigate the effects of global change on all elements of industrial and marketing structures. In other hand, King and Burnell [12] considered the lack of drinking water, as well as restrictions on access to clean water sources, as the main prerequisite for the escalation of conflicts and the outbreak of wars due to unequal conditions for citizens of one country or region; the authors predicted an increase in the number of armed clashes with the growth of the number of people who have difficulties with the free use of freshwater.…”

Climate Change on Agriculture in 2050: A CGE Approach

“…These include the increase of acreage under crop, change of management practices by farmers, such as farm automation and agricultural innovation. Control of food wastage through improved storage practices will minimize the negative effects of extreme climate change(Tumwesigye et al, 2019). <Table 9 > presents a summary of the sectoral trade balance in US$ millions.…”