"Climate change is likely to first hurt developing countries which could become almost too hot to successfully grow essential crops, international experts told a conference Wednesday. World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development Katherine Sierra told a scientific conference in Canberra that 'heat stress' from global warming posed a serious threat to food supply.
'Rising temperatures will create heat stress in some species of livestock, less stable crop yields and lead to more frequent outbreaks of pests and disease,' said Sierra, who also chairs the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. ..." [The Associated Press/Factiva]
In an interview with Reuters, she adds that "There is no end in sight to global food shortages and multiple crises from climate change and energy and water scarcity will soon intensify what is already a silent famine...Sierra, in a conference speech, said governments around the world had failed to properly invest in agricultural research, and step-up production of new types of food in time to meet demand. ...
Sierra said research must focus on hardier crops tolerant to drought, heat and salinity, as well as the range of cereals to include roots, tubers and grain legumes like peas, lentils and soya beans, many of which do not need industrial fertilizers. ..." [Reuters/Factiva]
Australian Associated Press reports that "...The land available to grow the world's staple food crops would shrink - in some cases dramatically - by mid-century, Sierra warned. ... Improved cereal seeds - tolerant to drought, flood and salinity - would be central, Sierra said. ...
On a positive note, Sierra said climate change could increase plant growth and improve the way some plants used water, although this was yet to be verified in the field. ...She was speaking to a conference organized by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering's Crawford Fund."