Challenges and Opportunities Faced on Food Production Systems in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions under Climate Change Conditions

Mini Review

Ann Agric Crop Sci. 2022; 7(2): 1109.

Challenges and Opportunities Faced on Food Production Systems in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions under Climate Change Conditions

Jahan M* and Ghalenoei Sh

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran

*Corresponding author: Mohsen Jahan, Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Iran; Email: jahan@ferdowsi.um.ac.ir; ORCiD: 0000-0003-2259-5124

Received: December 23, 2021; Accepted: February 02, 2022; Published: February 09, 2022

Abstract

Climate change and variability may have an impact on the occurrence of food safety hazards at various stages of the food chain. It may also affect socio-economic aspects related to food systems such as agriculture, animal production, global trade, demographics and human behavior which all influence food safety. There is also concern that meeting the rising demand for food is leading to environmental degradation thereby exacerbating factors in part responsible for climate change, and further undermining the food systems upon which food security is based. A major emphasis of climate change/food security research over recent years has addressed the agronomic aspects of climate change, and particularly crop yield. Therefore, while agronomic research alone cannot address all food security/climate change issues, hence the balance of investment in research and development for crop production vis a vis other aspects of food security needs to be assessed. Improved understanding of the impacts of climate change on crop production helps to develop adaptation options, and also crucially it improves understanding of the consequences of different adaptation options on further climate forcing. This role can further be strengthened if agronomists work alongside other scientists to develop adaptation options that are not only effective in terms of crop production, but are also environmentally and economically robust, at landscape and regional scales. Furthermore, such integrated approaches are much more likely to address the information need of policy makers. The potential for stronger linkages between the results of agronomic research and the policy environment will thus be enhanced.

Keywords: Food systems; Environmental variability; Adaptation strategies

Introduction

Food security

Maintaining food security depends on finding suitable solutions to adapt crop production systems and manage its consequences at the regional and local scales. As a strategy to protect and improve the poor liveliness and guarantee food security, the top concern for agricultural development is to reduce the vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate change [1,2].

Debate about global water scarcity and food security has intensified in recent times, and precise estimates of future water and food demand are elusive. Climate change is adding another layer of complexity. The global human population may hit a record 12 billion people by 2050. The much-needed increase in food production is not forthcoming. The bulk of the increase in food production must come from areas currently cultivated through increase in water and energy use efficiency. There are many factors that affect food safety such as global trade, socio-economic and technological development, urbanization and agricultural land use. Temperature increases (Figure 1) and changes in rainfall patterns have an impact on the persistence and patterns of occurrence of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi and the patterns of their corresponding foodborne diseases. Such changes also have an impact on microbial ecology and growth, plant and animal physiology and host susceptibility which may result in the emergence, redistribution and changes in the incidence and intensity of plant and animal diseases and pest infestations, all of which could impact foodborne diseases and zoonosis [3].