Overview of Crop Models for Assessment of Crop Production

Abstract

Assessment of the impact of climate change on food production systems and the policies needed to adjust to these changes, begins with the biophysical evaluation of crop production as influenced by soil properties, weather variability with climate change superimposed upon it, and potential changes in agrotechnology. The biophysical outcomes must be combined with economic and trade models for final decisions regarding optimal policies to deal with climate change. The outcomes should be appropriately responsive to the most likely climate changes of increased air temperature and higher atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)and to the changing technology required for adjusting to the projected climate changes. The biophysical outcomes will be no better than the general circulation model projections of the actual climate change.