NASA's Dire Warning About Climate Change and our Crops

Pay attention to 2030

A study published on November 1 in the journal – Nature Food a new study by NASA found that corn may soon take a significant hit from the progressing climate change, throwing global food security into turmoil. Corn is the most produced crop in the world; NASA is predicting that by 2030 the crop’s yield may be decreased by 25% if global warming continues at its current pace. NASA scientists used advanced computer modelling to look at the expected temperature rise across the globe, changes in rain patterns and rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The results showed that many tropical regions that currently rely on corn production might become too hot for these plants to thrive. 

The U.S., China and Brazil are currently the world's biggest corn producers. Corn is also grown in many parts of central Asia, western Africa and central America. NASA said in a statement that all of these regions might see their yields decline within the coming decade. The report’s lead scientist Jonas Jagermeyr said that "Even under optimistic climate change scenarios, where societies enact ambitious efforts to limit global temperature rise, global agriculture is facing a new climate reality. And with the interconnectedness of the global food system, the impacts in even one region’s breadbasket will be felt worldwide. NASA also reported that soybeans and rice will be affected as well as all major crops, with one exception. The modeling also found that wheat, the second most important crop grown for human consumption (number one for humans is rice), might thrive better in the new warmer world.

Their prediction is that wheat’s yields might jump by 17% by 2030. So will corn flakes become wheat flakes in the future?