Global warming destabilizes food supply IPCC's first report August 8, 18:52

The United Nations IPCC, which is made up of scientists from around the world, says that the inter-governmental panel on climate change will destabilize food supply due to global warming. A report to summarize. If the reduction of greenhouse gases is delayed, it will warn that it will have a serious impact.

IPCC held a general meeting in Geneva, Switzerland from 2nd to 7th of this month, and over 100 scientists from 52 countries including Japan participated to summarize the impact of global warming on land. Approved the report.

In this, he pointed out that the average temperature on land is nearly twice as high as the average global temperature, including sea surface temperature, before the Industrial Revolution. The increase in strength and duration is very likely due to the effects of global warming.

He also pointed out that the impact of global warming is also high on the increase in the frequency and intensity of drought in many regions of the Mediterranean Sea and West Asia and South America, and the frequency of heavy rain on a global scale. It is.

And if the food supply becomes unstable due to abnormal weather and the population reaches 9 billion people at the end of this century, grain prices may rise by up to 23% in 2050.

In order to reduce the damage caused by global warming, he points out that measures such as an early warning system against abnormal weather and the use of varieties that are resistant to heat and dryness are essential.

In addition, the report warns that if the reduction of greenhouse gases is delayed, it will cause a serious economic impact in many countries, and the measures to reinforce countermeasures will be renewed as the reduction measures have not sufficiently progressed in each country. have become.

The heat wave that hit Europe

Europe, however, has been hit by record heat waves in June and July, and the WMO = World Meteorological Organization is forecast to be the hottest months of June and July, respectively.

In July, the highest temperature reached 42 degrees and 6 minutes in Paris, the capital of France, on July 25, exceeding the 40 degrees and 4 minutes recorded in 1947.

In the center of Paris, there were many tourists entering the fountain and playing in the water, and seeing the heat in the shade.

On the same day, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands recorded the highest temperature in the history of observation in over 5 countries in Europe, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

WMO = World Meteorological Organization has pointed out, "Such severe and widespread heat waves are proof of global warming."

French agriculture that must be addressed

France, one of the world's largest agricultural powers, was hit by record droughts in addition to heat waves.

On the Loire River, the longest river in the country that flows through central France, the water level drops drastically due to lack of rain, and there is a place where it completely dries out.

The corn field along the Loire River was hit by this water shortage.

Although it is widely cultivated as feed for livestock such as dairy cows and pigs, it suffers from damage caused by leaf dying and pure white, no-nutrition.

Joel Limzan, who grows corn in the western suburbs of Angers, feels anxiety because he expects the harvest to drop to almost half.

Limzan said, “The heat wave is starting earlier and the temperature rises sharply, and the plant cannot respond.”

Abnormal heat also affects livestock such as dairy cows.
When the temperature rises, dairy cows reduce the production and quality of milk by increasing the number of breaths and reducing appetite to suppress the rise in body temperature.

Doni Marange, a dairy farmer in the western suburbs of Angers, raises 120 dairy cows, but the production has decreased by about 20% due to heat waves.

Mr. Marange has installed a new watering facility in the barn as a measure against heat. “I have never experienced over 40 degrees. I ca n’t. ”

Mr. Marangi also cultivates corn as a livestock feed, but because of the increasing frequency of heat waves, the cultivation of African sorghum “Sorghum”, which grows with little water in some fields for three years, is used for feed. I started.

Mr. Marange says that “the feed to be given to cows needs to be changed” and considering measures to increase the cultivation area because sorghum has survived the heat wave and drought damage.

Expert "Difficulty in agricultural production"

Mr. Frederick Lebro, an expert in agricultural guidance in France and familiar with global warming issues, points out that the impacts of agriculture that are likely to be caused by global warming have already appeared in various forms.

According to Leblo, in France, the dryness is getting stronger every year in the spring and summer, which means that heat waves and drought overlap, making it difficult to grow feed for livestock such as corn.

It also means that cows and goats are in poor health due to heat waves, and milk production is decreasing.

As a result of this situation, Mr. Lebro said that farmers who are experimenting with crops from Africa instead of corn are starting to appear. The taste and quality of the product will also be affected. "

Lebro also said, “Red wine has an alcohol content that is nearly twice higher than 20 years ago,” and expressed concern that the rise in average temperature may have affected wine. It was.

Mr. Lebro is currently worried that agriculture can respond to changes, but at the end of the 21st century, it may be difficult to produce agricultural products like the present under the French climate. He stressed the need to reduce greenhouse gases to prevent progress.

Cheese stores are also concerned about global warming

There are also concerns that global warming will affect traditional French food culture.

According to a long-established cheese shop in the center of Paris, this heat wave and drought can reduce the production of milk and other items, which may affect the selection of cheeses in the fall.

The store clerk said, “There is no doubt that the choice of cheese will be limited and the number of types will be reduced. At least the total amount of cheese can be reduced as never before.”

On top of that, for small cheese producers with deals, “If the climate changes drastically, it will be indispensable to introduce new technologies including storage,” in order to protect the traditional food culture. He talked about the need to respond to global warming.