In the Victor Borg room this afternoon, a panel of officials spoke of the pressing need to emphasize the connection between Climate Change and Food Security. The panelists spoke of the challenges facing farmers and the agricultural community around the world, particularly in developing countries, whose are the most vulnerable to the economic challenges presented by agricultural failure. Farmers, who rely on predictable weather patterns to grow and harvest their crops, are facing tremendous challenges as climate zones shift due to atmospheric warming. An increase of 2 or more degrees would mean the collapse of most agriculture, says Gilberto Camara, the General Director of Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. Such a collapse would derive countries around the world not only of their immediate food supply, but of the economic ability to confront the challenges at hand.
IFAP president Ajay Vashnee says that the link between climate change and food security needs to be clearly articulated and recognized at these negotiations. “We have to win the battle against hunger and climate change,” says Vashnee, “and we have to do it at the same time.”
