Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

Abstract

Abstract Climate change is placing stress on food production areas, adversely affecting environments for future agriculture and livestock production as well as threatening food security and nutrition. Changes in temperature and rainfall are increasing the potential for insect, pest, and disease threats to food production, food safety, and water quality as well as the risk of malnutrition. Climate change is challenging the ability of production systems in low- and middle-income countries to raise productivity in the face of growing food demand, thereby raising food prices and jeopardizing nutrition. Climate change can exacerbate undernutrition by reducing household food security, environmental health, and access to health services. Specific actions that can increase the resilience of agri-food systems and households to climate change include research and development of stress-tolerant and resilient crop varieties and animal breeds, more efficient food markets, agricultural information services, improved social protection measures, and early-warning systems. The chapter includes a textbox on threats from plant pathogens.