The environmental food crisis

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report presents an inventory of the 2008 food crisis and highlights current and future issues with livestock, crop and aquaculture production. The authors analyse the relationship between climate change and agricultural production. They look first at the probable consequences of climate change on agricultural production (loss of arable land, soil and climate conditions, water resources) and food availability for a growing population. Then the authors briefly explore some possibilities of mitigating climate change.

The report proposes seven options, with longer- or shorter-term effects, for increasing crop production without compromising sustainability.

 UNEP - February 2009