Nourishment in a Changing Climate: Impacts of Global Warming on Food Security

"Nourishment in a Changing Climate: Impacts of Global Warming on Food Security"

• Vulnerability of the agriculture sector to climate change, particularly in India with a large agricultural workforce
• G7 commitment to peak global greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and net-zero emissions by 2040
• Reports from WMO and IMD highlighting rising temperatures and increased extreme weather events
• Climate change impacts on agriculture: yield drop, food production disruption, the potential increase in extreme poverty by 2030
• Focus on Agricultural Research, Development, Education, and Extension (ARDE) for better resource use efficiency and climate-resilient seeds
• Balanced allocation of ARDE across sectors, considering livestock's significant greenhouse gas emissions
• Government initiatives to achieve at least 1% Research Intensity (RI) of Agricultural Gross Value Added (AGVA)
• Need for political will, policy realignment, and program evaluation to support farmers' incomes and nutrition
• Diversification towards livestock and horticulture to align policies with changing agricultural landscape
• Regular reviews and monitoring to address systemic challenges in food security and nutrition.

The agriculture sector's vulnerability to climate change has serious implications, especially for India with its large agricultural workforce (45.6 percent) among G20 countries.

At the G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023, reaching peak global greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 was emphasized, with G7 countries committing to an "Acceleration Agenda" for net-zero emissions by around 2040. China aims for net-zero by 2060 and India by 2070.

Reports by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) highlight rising temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme weather events, affecting glacial retreat, flooding, cyclones, droughts, erratic monsoons, and heat stress.

The impact of climate change on agriculture includes a drop in yields, disrupting food production and potentially pushing over 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

To address these challenges, Indian policymakers should focus on Agricultural Research, Development, Education, and Extension (ARDE), which yields greater returns compared to other subsidies and investments. ARDE can improve resource use efficiency, develop climate-resilient seeds, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance agricultural productivity.

Allocation of ARDE should be balanced across sectors, addressing livestock's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

The government should ensure Research Intensity (RI) reaches at least 1% of Agricultural Gross Value Added (AGVA) by increasing budgetary allocations for ARDE and realigning subsidies towards climate change mitigation.

Political will and policy realignment are crucial for ensuring farmers' incomes, reviewing nutritional status, and monitoring and evaluating programs.

It is important to move beyond traditional staples and focus on livestock and horticulture to align policies and programs with the changing agricultural landscape. Regular reviews and monitoring can address systemic challenges in food security and nutrition.

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