Germany: Climate change threatens crops

A study conducted in Germany found that without adaptive measures, grain crops could experience crop losses ranging from 7% to 23% due to abrupt climate change. The effects of temperature fluctuations, high CO2 levels, and water availability were analyzed on major grain crops such as wheat, corn, millet, sorghum, and rice. While C3 plants like wheat and rice showed a compensatory effect on yield with high CO2 levels, this effect was countered by heat and drought. On the other hand, elevated CO2 benefited C4 plants like corn, millet, and sorghum under drought conditions. The study suggests adaptation techniques like irrigation to increase wheat yields at higher latitudes, but funding and limited water resources present challenges. Additionally, the research emphasizes the need for multivariate experiments and integrated impact assessments to better understand crop yield responses to climate change. The vulnerability of agriculture to climate change is highlighted, with cereal crops and other crops such as cocoa and coffee being threatened by extreme weather patterns.