James River Soil and Water Conservation District

By Yejin Kwon written while attending Midlothian High School

(Former Intern for Director Laura Thompson)

***Note: JRSWCD hasn’t taken a stance on the topic, this article is just stating the opinion of the writer.***

With an increase in temperatures across the globe, many aspects of agriculture are being affected. Agricultural activity already gets affected occasionally throughout the year with periods of drought or natural disasters. Around 30 million people annually have to relocate due to extreme weather conditions across the globe. The change with global warming has hit places with an already dry climate harder. The United States has been of assistance to countries that have experienced natural disasters, which might have been caused by changes in climate patterns. With these natural disasters taking place, measures have been taken to try to combat changes in agricultural activity and the food supply.

Changes in rainfall have been detrimental to crops, as rainfall has been excessive or lacking in different regions. With increased rainfall, many crops become depleted of nutrients as rainfall erodes the soil. Runoff from rainfall is another factor that contributes to pollution, as runoff can go into larger bodies of water. Runoff can carry animal manure, fertilizers, and other substances that are harmful to large bodies of water. Changes in the substances in water can affect wildlife, as these chemicals can create hypoxia, which is when water has decreased levels of oxygen. When disruptions occur to marine life, this could mean a decreased availability of food for populations that rely on marine life for their intake.

Decreased levels of food supply also increased the price of food. According to the USDA, around 10.2% of households in the United States during 2021 were food insecure. Some of these households lived in poverty and didn’t have the ability to buy food due to increased prices. Rising prices of food products from a decreased supply have been the main factor contributing to recent trends in food insecurity.

When these challenges are faced at a global scale, finding efficient solutions that will create positive changes for current populations is crucial to ensure that the number of individuals experiencing food shortages doesn’t increase. Responding to changes in rainfall would mean that implementing farming practices that are resilient to change, depending on weather conditions is a potential solution. Diversifying the growth of crops helps to put pressure off the reliance on a certain kind of crop. Implementing more efficient irrigation systems can increase agricultural productivity. Creating practices to prevent overfishing of marine life can assist with endangered species and help to increase populations of these species. Monitoring levels of harmful substances in large bodies of water is a way to gain knowledge on what actions need to be taken in order to create cleaner waters. While these solutions might not solve the overall issue of climate change overnight, measures taken to prevent further damage to agricultural systems will help preserve the food supply now and for years to come.

Citations:

“Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply.

“Home | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/i5188e.pdf.

“Irrigation & Water Use.” USDA ERS – Irrigation & Water Use, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/irrigation-water-use/.

Italy, U.S. Mission. “How Climate Change Affects the Food Crisis.” U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy, 17 Oct. 2022, https://it.usembassy.gov/how-climate-change-affects-the-food-crisis/.

“Overview.” USDA ERS – Food Security in the U.S., https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/.

Climate Change Food Supply