Climate Change Threatens Global Food Security

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Climate Change and Agriculture

Climate change, marked by increasing heatwaves and floods, presents a significant threat to global agriculture and food security (Plant Biostimulants to Enhance Abiotic Stress Resilience in Crops). Predictive models indicate a grim future for agriculture if adaptive strategies are not implemented to enhance crop resilience and ensure food security (Plant Biostimulants to Enhance Abiotic Stress Resilience in Crops). The average global temperature is projected to be 1.5 °C warmer between 2030 and 2052, and more than 3–4 °C warmer by 2100 at the current emission rate (The Role of Exogenously Applied Polyamines to Improve Heat Tolerance in Tomatoes: A Review). This temperature increase could lead to a 15–35% decrease in crop yields in Africa and Asia, and a 25–35% decrease in the Middle East (The Role of Exogenously Applied Polyamines to Improve Heat Tolerance in Tomatoes: A Review). Climate is the most crucial factor influencing crop production and productivity, threatening the sustainability of crop production systems and global food security (Role of biostimulants in mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance).

Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, detrimentally impact agricultural crops by affecting their physiology, growth, and ultimately, yield. High temperatures negatively affect both vegetative growth and reproductive processes in crops like tomatoes, leading to losses in yield and fruit quality (Tomato plant response to heat stress: a focus on candidate genes …). Heat stress can be evaluated by examining parameters such as stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, inflorescence and flower number, pollen germination and viability, and fruit yield (Tomato plant response to heat stress: a focus on candidate genes …).

Understanding Agricultural Adaptation

Adaptive strategies in agriculture refer to methods and technologies implemented to help crops cope with the adverse effects of climate change and other environmental stressors. Beyond biostimulants and microbial inoculants, these strategies encompass a broader range of approaches aimed at improving plant resilience and productivity. For example, the application of microbial biostimulants is a long-term strategy for improving plant productivity and performance, even in the face of climate change-associated stresses (The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops).

Beneficial filamentous fungi, yeasts, and bacteria are examples of microbial biostimulants that can boost growth, yield, nutrition, and stress tolerance in plants (The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that can mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stresses like drought and salt stress (Recent advances in PGPR-mediated resilience toward interactive effects of drought and salt stress in plants). Microbial mitigation strategies are being explored to increase crop production, particularly in the context of heat stress (A Review on the Role of Endophytes and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Mitigating Heat Stress in Plants).

Biostimulants and Microbial Solutions

Biostimulants and microbial inoculants are substances or microorganisms applied to plants or soil to improve crop vigor, yield, and tolerance to abiotic stresses. They are promising because they offer sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to enhance agricultural productivity, especially in the face of climate change. Microbial biostimulants, which include beneficial filamentous fungi, yeasts, and bacteria, can boost plant growth, yield, nutrition, and stress tolerance (The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops).

The application of microbial biostimulants is a long-term strategy for improving plant productivity and performance, even under climate change-associated stresses (The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops). Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a type of microbial inoculant that can promote plant growth by supplying nutrients and regulating phytohormone levels (Exploring the intricacies of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria …). PGPR can help plants cope with abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, which are exacerbated by climate change (Recent advances in PGPR-mediated resilience toward interactive effects of drought and salt stress in plants).

The Role of PGPR in Crop Resilience

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that live in the soil around plant roots (the rhizosphere) and can enhance plant growth and development. They are considered a sustainable alternative in agriculture due to their natural mechanisms. PGPR promote plant growth through direct or indirect mechanisms (Exploring the intricacies of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria …).

Direct modes of action for PGPR include supplying phytonutrients like fixed nitrogen or solubilized minerals from the soil to improve plant nutrition (Exploring the intricacies of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria …). PGPR can also regulate phytohormone levels to promote plant growth and development (Exploring the intricacies of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria …). Furthermore, PGPR can help plants respond to abiotic stresses, such as drought (The role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in plant drought stress responses).

Beyond Heatwaves and Floods: Other Extreme Events

Climate change is intensifying a range of extreme weather events beyond just heatwaves and floods, significantly impacting agricultural productivity worldwide. Droughts, in particular, are a major concern, alongside other less frequently mentioned extremes like storms and cold snaps. Drought and soil salinity are two major environmental factors that reduce plant growth and productivity in many plant species, especially in arid and semi-arid regions (Recent advances in PGPR-mediated resilience toward interactive effects of drought and salt stress in plants).

Climate change has exacerbated the effects of abiotic stresses, including drought stress, on plant growth and productivity (The role of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in plant drought stress responses). Abiotic stresses, which include various environmental factors, impact plant responses, leading to altered metabolic pathways and reduced growth rates, resulting in significant crop yield losses (Recent advances in PGPR-mediated resilience toward interactive effects of drought and salt stress in plants). Plants are exposed to extreme and unpredictable changes in climatic conditions, which results in drastic losses in worldwide agricultural productions (The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops).

The ‘Omics’ Approach and Plant Physiology

The ‘omics’ approach, which refers to fields like genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, has significantly advanced the understanding of how biostimulants act on plants at cellular levels (Role of biostimulants in mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance). This scientific approach allows researchers to study the entire set of genes, proteins, or metabolites within an organism, providing a comprehensive view of how plants respond to stress and how biostimulants can modify these responses. By understanding these intricate cellular mechanisms, scientists can design more effective biostimulants and crop management strategies.

Biostimulants can act as messengers in signal transduction, resembling phytohormones and other chemical compounds, helping to design future crop management strategies under changing climate conditions (Role of biostimulants in mitigating the effects of climate change on crop performance). When evaluating heat stress, technical parameters such as stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, inflorescence and flower number, pollen germination and viability, and fruit yield are crucial. Stomatal conductance measures how well plants can regulate water loss through their leaves, while the net photosynthetic rate indicates how efficiently plants convert sunlight into energy. Inflorescence and flower number, along with pollen germination and viability, are direct indicators of a plant’s reproductive success, which directly impacts yield. These physiological parameters are vital for assessing crop health and developing targeted interventions.

The Economic and Social Impact

The detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture extend beyond crop yields, affecting food availability, access, and affordability for different populations. When crops fail due to extreme weather events, the supply of food decreases, leading to higher prices. This disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including many in the African Diaspora, who may already face economic hardships. For example, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture estimated crop-related flooding damage in Arkansas in 2025, to be $78.9 million. These losses are ultimately passed on to consumers through increased prices. According to The American Farm Bureau Federations, in 2024, farmers lost $20.3 billion to weather disasters including flooding and heat waves.

The economic consequences of climate change on agriculture also include increased crop insurance payments and reduced agricultural revenue for farmers. This creates a cycle of instability that can further marginalize communities dependent on agriculture. Addressing these socioeconomic consequences requires a holistic approach that considers not only agricultural resilience but also food systems, economic support for farmers, and equitable access to nutritious food for all.

Innovative Farming Practices and Future Projections

Beyond biostimulants and microbial inoculants, other technological innovations and farming practices are crucial for mitigating climate impacts. Regenerative agriculture approaches, including the use of cover crops, offer long-term solutions. Cover crops are plants primarily grown to provide several benefits, including improving water infiltration, soil health and structure, and controlling erosion. Recent research reaffirms that cover crops can mitigate the effects of flooding, thus enhancing resilience to extreme weather events.

Although the use of cover crops continues to gain traction in the United States, rising by 17% between 2017 and 2022, according to recent satellite-based research that analyzed 100,000 fields, their adoption and use can pose some challenges and potential drawbacks that continue to warrant more research and consideration. Future projections indicate that many extreme weather events, including flooding, will continue to increase in both intensity and frequency. Therefore, it is time for researchers, policymakers, governments, media, and stakeholders across agriculture and food systems to engage more urgently in how these events affect not just humans, but also how they detrimentally impact agricultural crops and the microbial communities that support soils and agricultural crop health.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.