Climate Impacts - Impacts For People, Agriculture

To-Do Date: Apr 26 at 9:30am

A common misconception about climate change and agriculture is that, because it will be warmer and plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, our agricultural productivity will increase.  This is an over simplification.  Productive agriculture requires more than warm temperatures and carbon dioxide.  Plants require nutrients and water.  They can be attacked by pests.  Fires or flooding can interfere with growing crops or cause crop loss.  

Study Guide Questions

4. How is climate change impacting agriculture both worldwide and in California?

• • • What are the 5 key climatic changes that are affecting California's agriculture?
    • What are the impacts of each of these changes? 
    • What are potential solutions?
    • What are the impacts of climate change on Guatemala and its coffee production? 

 

To better understand the impacts of climate change on agriculture, read the article, A brief guide to the impacts of climate change on food production Links to an external site..  As you are reading, I recommend making notes on each of the five climate impacts affecting food production for use when taking the quiz.

Watch the this short video below to see how increasingly unpredictable weather is affecting growth of coffee beans in Guatemala.