Global Offset Experts: Climate change could cause food prices to double – UN Climate Conference.

Dec. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Experts and specialists speaking at the UN climate change summit in Cancun, Mexico have indicated that even if we stopped spewing gasses responsible for global warming into the atmosphere immediately, global food prices would face a steady increase this century. On our present emissions path, climate change becomes the “threat multiplier” which could see grain prices as much as double by 2050 leaving millions more children malnourished, Global Offset Experts was told.


According to Gerald Nelson, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), things become more serious for agriculture after 2050, when climate scientists project that temperatures could rise by as much as 6.4 °Celsius (11.5 ° Fahrenheit) above 20th century levels. Nelson said that after feeding 15 scenarios of population and income growth into supercomputer models of climate, the results showed that "climate change worsens future human well-being, especially among the world's poorest people."


The IFPRI research indicated that prices will be driven up by a combination of factors including a slowdown in productivity in some areas as a result of global warming and shifting rain patterns, and an increase in demand due to population and income growth, Global Offset Experts has learned.

Other scientists attending the conference have revealed that the effects of global warming are already evident. Agricultural scientist Andrew Jarvis, who has just returned from northern India, has told Global Offset Experts that the area's wheat farmers are finding that warming was maturing their crops too quickly.


"The temperatures are high and they're getting reduced yields," the Colombia-based International Center for Tropical Agriculture based scientist said recently.


The latest available research presented at the conference clearly shows that further climate disruptions for agricultural zones in much of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and parts of Latin America, including Mexico can be expected.


The data presented by Nelson shows that even the U.S.’s corn belt “could actually see a significant reduction in productivity potential.”


"Unlike the 20th century, when real agricultural prices declined, the first half of the 21st century is likely to see increases in real agricultural prices," the IFPRI report said.


Nelson went on to say that only significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and billions spent to assist farmers to adapt to the changing climate could head off serious food shortages.


The IFPRI, which is supported by world governments, estimates that a minimum of $7 billion additional spending annually is required for crop research and improved irrigation, roads, and other agricultural infrastructure upgrades, Global Offset Experts was informed.

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