A CSIRO principal scientist says the latest IPCC report warns of looming food issues. 

With the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report this week, experts say planning and adaptation need to be taken seriously. 

“Australian crop yields are projected to decline due to hotter and drier conditions, including intense heat spikes. Interactions of heat and drought could lead to even greater losses than heat alone,” says Dr Uday Nidumolu, CSIRO principal scientist, Agriculture and Food. 

“Across all types of agriculture, drought and its physical flow-on effects have caused financial and emotional disruption and stress in farm households and communities. 

“To manage drought, balancing near-term needs with long-term adaptation to increasing aridity is essential.”

The CSIRO expert says some important changes are already taking place.

Australian farmers are beginning to engage in effective capture of non-growing season rainfall like stubble retention to store soil water, improved water use efficiency, and matching sowing times and cultivars to the environment to manage climate risk for their production. 

“Australian farmers are also adapting to changing climate through application of new technologies that improve resource efficiencies, professional knowledge and skills development, new farmer and community networks, and diversification of business and household income,” Dr Nidumolu says.

More detailed analysis is accessible here.