Climate Change Could Affect Global Agriculture within 10 Years

Released Monday, November 1, 2021

ID: 13979

- Produced by:
- Kathryn Mersmann
- Written by:
- Ellen T. Gray
- Visualizations by:
- Mark SubbaRao
- Scientific consulting by:
- Jonas Jaegermeyer

Average global crop yields for maize, or corn, may see a decrease of 24% by late century, with the declines becoming apparent by 2030, with high greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new NASA study. Wheat, in contrast, may see an uptick in crop yields by about 17%. The change in yields is due to the projected increases in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns and elevated surface carbon dioxide concentrations due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, making it more difficult to grow maize in the tropics and expanding wheat’s growing range.

Music: Futurity by Lee Groves [PRS] and Peter George Marett [PRS]

Complete transcript available.

En Español

Music: Transcode by Lee Groves [PRS] and Peter George Marett [PRS]

Complete transcript available.

Earth

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Producer
- Kathryn Mersmann (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Writer
- Ellen T. Gray (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Visualizer
- Mark SubbaRao (NASA/GSFC)
Scientists
- Jonas Jaegermeyer (Columbia University)
- Alex C. Ruane (NASA/GISS)