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Research shows how climate change is impacting food safety

Researchers at Wageningen University and Ghent University (Belgium) have published a special issue on the “Impacts of Climate Change on Food Safety,” found in the latest issue of Food Research International. In their report, they discuss not only food production and food safety, but the direct impacts to human health associated with climate change, such as flooding, droughts and adverse weather conditions.

The researchers cite a number of important studies, such as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change studies (IPCC), and the European Union financed Veg-i-Trade study. These studies are the first qualitative studies showing the relationship between climate change and food safety. Overall, the Wageningen and Ghent researchers agreed with the conclusions reached by researchers in these studies.

But in this new study, the research team also say it is necessary to add additional climate scenarios, or models, as well as a quantitative study looking into the possible problems and adaptation options that could be available.This part of the report is the most interesting, and again points to the need for worldwide vigilance as well as for having ready solutions available that can be adapted to differing climatic patterns. Doing so is essential to food security for all nations.

Statistical analyses within the Veg-i-Trade project
The Veg-i-Trade project, using field studies and statistical analysis, showed the relationship between climate variables, such as temperature and rainfall and fruit and vegetable contamination. The field studies focused on fresh produce in the E.U. because this includes a variety of products with a diversity of production methods. More importantly, these crops are usually grown in open fields with intense water usage and vulnerability to changing weather patterns.

The study also included plant pests and the use of pesticides, and this was an eye-opener. Climate change will have different effects on pests and the pesticides being used. Increased warming and rains have already impacted some parts of the world. Brazil was hit with soybean rust in 2004, necessitating the increased use of a fungicide to kill the pest. Another thing to take into consideration is that drought conditions and dryer temperatures can lead to faster degradation of some pesticides. The big fear is that changing conditions could easily result in the overuse of pesticides, a dangerous scenario.

An excellent example of cooperation and being adaptable when making use of changing climate models is explained by IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management researcher David Leclère. He pointed out: “The climate model used for estimating changes in climate largely shapes adaptations such as moving production from one region to another. But it also shows the importance of how regions are interconnected through trade: for example, in Latin America, where yields are projected to decrease in all scenarios, cropland could increase in some scenarios due to increased net exports to North America. In Europe, where yields are expected to increase due to climate change, cultivated land could decrease depending on the scenario, due to limited export opportunities.”

Conclusions on the need for adaptability in plant production and safety

The research team concluded that in looking at the different scenarios where climate change will impact food production and food safety, it will obviously have a different impact on different countries, sectors and companies around the globe. This means the focus will have to be on adaptive capabilities. Some innovative approaches may have to be taken because the hydrological balance will be affected and with this, there will be a change in the variety and number of plant pests, as well as the necessity of changing crops. Hopefully, nations are addressing this aspect of climate change, especially when it means having the ability to produce enough food and assure that the food is safe to eat.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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