Climate change impacts on food security and society

Climate change is increasingly impacting global food security, agricultural stability, and social structures through extreme weather patterns.

Initial assessments highlight how prolonged droughts and shifting precipitation patterns cause crop failures and jeopardize livestock feed supplies. These environmental shifts also introduce biological risks, such as the spread of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter, and the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi. To mitigate these effects, experts recommend integrated economic planning and the use of alternative feed sources.

As the crisis progresses, the impact on staple crops becomes more acute. In North Korea, extreme heatwaves and droughts threaten rice and corn production, with projections suggesting significant decreases in rice biomass and overall production by the 2080s. Furthermore, extreme heat is linked to broader social consequences, including increased mortality and reduced community engagement in regions such as Appalachia and Europe, where individuals tend to limit movement to avoid high temperatures.