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Crop failures could double due to climate change

Africa College scientist Dr Andy Challinor in the news

Repoted in the Daily Telegraph and on BBC Farming Today Dr Andy Challinor from the University of Leeds talks about the impact of climate change on crop failures:

Dr Andy Challinor from the University of Leeds looked at the effect of climate change on spring wheat in China.

"Due to the importance of international trade, crop failure is an issue that affects everyone on the planet, not just those in crop-growing regions.

"More extreme weather events are expected to occur in the coming years due to climate change and we have shown that these events are likely to lead to more crop failures.

"What we need to do now is think about the solutions. It is highly unlikely that we will find a single intervention that is a 'silver bullet' for protecting crops from failure."

An approach was needed which combined building up crops' tolerance to heat and water stress alongside investment in agriculture, the researchers suggested.

Dr Evan Fraser, co-author from the University of Leeds, said rich and poor countries must adapt.

For more information please visit:
The Daily Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/8048917/Climate-change-threatens-UK-harvest.html

BBC Farming Today:

Source: Daily Telegraph and BBC Farmin Today
See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00v6lxb/Farming_Today_12_10_2010
12th October 2010

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