Rising temperatures could see world food production drop by almost a fifth by the middle of this century, scientists have warned.

 

Significant investments in infrastructure and irrigation could temper the predicted 18 per cent loss in global agricultural production, although food output may also need to be shifted to different areas, the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters says.

 

Managing water resources is likely to be the biggest challenge for farmers as they seek to adapt to changing climate patterns. Irrigation systems may need to be expanded by 25 per cent to cope with changing rainfall patterns, the report says.

 

However, the difficulty of modeling shifts in precipitation makes it unclear where irrigation projects are likely to be most needed, so some investments should not be made until after 2030, the paper advises.

 

The paper acknowledges that food production is likely to expand in northern regions, benefitting Europe. But at the same time production is expected to become more difficult in already warm areas.

 

However, the report predicts that sharp drops in food production are not inevitable. The authors say that, if climate impacts are managed correctly, food production could even rise three per cent by 2050.