Impact of Climate Change on Crop Production: Effects and Management

Abstract

Climate change is one of the major challenges to global food security in the twenty-first century. There is a need to produce more food for the rapidly growing human population; however, this is being challenged by the growing anthropogenic pressure on natural resources and uncertain impacts of climate change on global agriculture. Generally, climate change encompasses but not limited to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration, air temperature and precipitation dynamics, all of which are vital for crop production. The effects of these climatic variables on crop production processes are complex and generally more challenging to deal with if different variables are combined. To ensure food security for the increasing population, we must adopt different strategies that would increase the resilience and sustainability of crop production under climate change. This chapter summarizes the major effects of climatic variables on crop production and feasible strategies to adapt to the changing climate.