Precipitation, Crops, and Food Insecure Regions
Precipitation Change
Change in Precipitation
By the End of the 21st Century
Prioritizing Regions
Food Security Impacts for 2030 Criteria taken into account:
Importance of a crop to the region’s food-insecure
population (HI) Projected impact of climate change to a crop’s production
Statistical Model with: Historical crop harvests Monthly temperatures and precipitation Maps of growing locations
Regions of Concern
Changes in Temperature and Precipitation
Crop Priority
Focus Adaptation Investments
Negative impacts most likely to occur (C95 < 0%): South Asia wheat Southeast Asia rice Southern Africa maize
Some very extreme impacts (C05 < –10%): Several South Asian crops Sahel sorghum Southern Africa maize
SAH
SAF
The Sahel
The Sahel
Proposed Adaptations
Shift Planting Schedule Increase Irrigation
Genetically Modify Crops Switch Crops
Discussion Questions
What can be done to curb the influence of the decrease in precipitation on food insecure regions? Is shifting planting/harvesting schedules enough? How will regions be affected that can no longer grow staple crops? How will changing crops impact traditions and customs in regions? Will the people be open to a new dietary supplement? Developed countries will have less trouble adapting to a change in precipitation. Should developed regions aid the food insecure nations in building irrigation and researching more resilient crops?