According to two reports published on Wednesday by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), food production and agriculture are not only drivers but also victims of climate change: Food systems contribute up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing 17,000 megatonnes of carbon dioxide per year, while agricultural production is responsible for 80% of total food system emissions. These figures account for the entire food chain, including transport and refrigeration of food, as well as the production of fertilisers. At the same time, agriculture is forced to adapt to altered conditions. “The food-related emissions and, conversely, the impacts of climate change on agriculture and the food system will profoundly alter the way we grow and produce food. This will affect different parts of the world in radically different ways, but all regions will have to change their current approach to what they grow and eat,” said Sonja Vermeulen, Head of Research at CCAFS and lead author of the study ‘Climate Change and Food Security’. According to the second study, ‘Recalibrating Food Production in the Developing World’, which analyses the impact of climate change on 22 of the world’s main crops, yields of the most important crops will decrease in many developing countries due to higher temperatures and unpredictable rainfall. By 2050, wheat production could decrease by 13%, rice yields by 15%, and African maize farmers could lose up to 20% of their yields. While potatoes will suffer with the higher temperatures, they might provide an opening for the cultivation of bananas in these areas. The drought-resistant cowpea plant could be an alternative to soybeans as a source of protein. Furthermore, warmer weather might increase the spread of pests and diseases. “The good news is that if farmers and food producers start to adapt now, they can stave off some of the dour food production and distribution scenarios laid out in this research”, said Philip Thornton, author of the study and a theme leader at CCAFS.