USDA Warns That Climate Change Will Severely Impact Food Security Worldwide

The USDA has released an extensive report today that details the impact of global warming on our food security. In the report, entitled Climate Change, Global Food Security, and the U.S. Food System, the USDA hypothesizes and strongly warns that climate change will severely impact food availability, access, utilization, and the stability of each of these over time.

According to the new report, climate risks to food security are greatest for poor populations and in tropical regions. But that does not mean the United States won't be severely affected by these changes: Types and cost of foods available for import will shift, as well as the balance between supply and demand of certain agricultural products. Beyond simply agricultural impact, processing, storage, transportation, and food consumption habits will have to change as a result of rising global temperatures.

"The report found that climate change is likely to cause disruptions in food production and a decrease in food safety, which in turn leads to local availability limitations and increases in food prices, with these risks greatest for the global poor and in tropical regions," said Dr. John Holdren, assistant to the president of science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "Accurately identifying needs and vulnerabilities, and effectively targeting adaptive practices and technologies across the full scope of the food system, are central to improving global food security in a changing climate."

In other words, our food production and consumption systems need to adapt to climate changes before we become vulnerable to low-yield. Actions like reducing food waste and carbon emissions could have a great effect on food security in the future.