As climate change progresses, experts are raising concerns about its alarming effects on global food availability. Scientists caution that failing to promptly shift our strategies in creating climate-adaptive crops could lead to extensive food shortages, resulting in famine, large-scale migration, and worldwide instability.
As climate change progresses, experts are raising concerns about its alarming effects on global food availability. In an article published in Trends in Plant Science, an international team of scientists warns that without urgent modifications in developing climate-adaptive crops, we may encounter widespread food shortages, which could result in famine, mass migration, and worldwide instability.
“We’re racing against the clock,” said Silvia Restrepo, the president of the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and a co-author of the paper. “The crops we rely on for our food are increasingly unable to withstand extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and floods. At the same time, our current methods of creating stronger, more resilient crops are not progressing quickly enough.”
The issue is multifaceted: crops are not just facing rising temperatures but also more frequent pest invasions and diseases. Even when crops endure these threats, climate change can diminish their nutritional quality. Compounding the problem, agriculture itself is responsible for around 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, creating a harmful feedback loop.
The researchers propose five critical solutions to tackle this crisis:
- Establish global research projects that unite scientists from both developed and developing countries to exchange knowledge and resources.
- Investigate plant performance under natural conditions instead of solely in laboratory environments.
- Forge stronger connections between lab scientists and farmers.
- Build public confidence and acceptance for new technologies in crop development.
- Simplify regulations to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions.
The paper highlights a concerning finding: despite the importance of agriculture for human survival, only about 4% of global climate funding (approximately $35 billion each year) is allocated to developing climate-resilient food systems. Even more troubling, much of this funding focuses on large-scale agriculture in wealthy nations, often neglecting smaller farms and countries in need.
“We must fundamentally change our approach to this issue,” noted co-author Andrew Nelson, an associate professor at BTI. “Rather than beginning in the lab and hoping that our solutions will work in practice, we should first understand the real obstacles faced by farmers and then design practical solutions accordingly.”
The researchers stress that achieving success will require unprecedented teamwork among scientists, farmers, lawmakers, and the community. They also highlight the need to ensure that new technologies reach all areas, especially in the Global South, where the effects of climate change are frequently felt the hardest.
As climate change worsens, the authors of the paper argue that the era of small, incremental adjustments is over. By decisively adopting the five suggested actions, we can establish agricultural practices that withstand the challenges posed by climate change while also enhancing food security and nutritional standards.
The group consists of 21 co-authors from nine different countries, formed following the First International Summit on Plant Resilience, organized by the Plant Resilience Institute earlier this year. The keynote was delivered by co-author Michelle Heck, an adjunct professor at BTI and Cornell University, as well as a Research Molecular Biologist at USDA-ARS, who shared insights on her pioneering work preventing citrus greening disease.
The summit aimed to foster global collaboration, uniting prominent plant scientists across various fields. Together, they outlined a strategic plan to position plant resilience research as a fundamental aspect of global climate change efforts. A follow-up summit is already scheduled for 2026.
