Global warming will reduce world agricultural production by 30%

Deforestation is a serious global issue that has been causing significant harm to our planet for many years. Every year, an area of forest the size of the United Kingdom is destroyed throughout the world, primarily consisting of tropical rainforests.

Agricultural production

Among the main conclusions of the report, it highlights that the effects of global warming will reduce world agricultural production by 30% between now and 2050 if the appropriate measures are not adopted; and, in the case of maize, wheat and other crops, the decrease could reach 80% in southern Africa.

"From production to consumption, international trade has a significant impact on the climate crisis", declared the executive director of the World Fair Trade organization, Leida Rijnhout, who stressed that the world trading system "needs a transition towards practices sustainable, including the social dimension that is the other side of the coin of this crisis.

For his part, the head of climate change at Fairtrade International, Juan Pablo Solís, has warned that "small agricultural organizations, which already live in a situation of poverty and vulnerability and are paid very low prices, cannot be expected to for its production, bear the full cost of the ecological transition.

80,000 acres of forest are lost every day

Deforestation is a serious global issue that has been causing significant harm to our planet for many years. Every year, an area of forest the size of the United Kingdom is destroyed throughout the world, primarily consisting of tropical rainforests. This equates to around 10 million hectares of forest lost each year, an alarming statistic that highlights the urgency of the situation.

80,000 acres of forest are lost every day, further exacerbating the problem. The loss of trees not only impacts the environment but also contributes to climate change. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and their destruction leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The number of trees cut down each year is staggering, with estimates suggesting around 15 billion trees are lost annually. This is an alarming statistic, particularly given the importance of trees in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and providing habitats for countless species.

Adapt to climate change

According to calculations by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, developing countries "would need between 180,000 and 300,000 million dollars annually for actions to adapt to climate change."

The report also concludes that climate change poses "a serious threat to food production." Extreme events such as storms, hurricanes or droughts devastate crops, destroy agricultural infrastructure and cause desertification and the reduction of arable land.

IFAD also warns that without the right political and climate action, production of maize, wheat, millet, peas and other products in eight southern African countries could fall by as much as 80%.

In the case of coffee, the area suitable for its cultivation could be reduced by 50% between now and 2050. And, in general, global agricultural yields could decrease by 30% by 2050, according to recent research by Oxfam.

On the other hand, the report highlights the "important" role of small farmers' organizations, which represent 95% of farms worldwide. These are the ones that produce a third of the food consumed in the world, and in developing countries, they account for between 60% and 80% of the food consumed there.

80% of people in extreme poverty live in rural areas

The study indicates that 80% of people living in extreme poverty live in rural areas and therefore have special difficulties in coping with the effects of climate change and combating it. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, 143 million people in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia could migrate to cities for climate reasons.

The report highlights the impact of trade and conventional production on climate change. Several UN agencies point out that unsustainable levels of production and consumption are responsible for the emission of an alarming amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the atmosphere.

Lastly, the publication explains how fair trade and its practices demonstrate that "a business model that respects the environment and a decent life for its workers is possible." Thus, it ensures that the payment of decent and stable prices, adequate salary remuneration, and training and advice "make it easier for agricultural organizations to carry out an ecological transition, maintaining productivity and income".

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