Food Prices and Climate Instability
Dry conditions in late summer in the Palouse region of Washington State. In many parts of the world the last few years world wheat yields declined due to instability of weather patterns that scientists believe is the direct result of climate change. Drought (Russia, Pakistan & China) or floods (in Australia) pushed up prices for farmers in Washington which is good right? However if the Russian drought was centered over the mid-west the result could be devastating. For every 1 degree C increase in temperature from climate change scientists estimate that grain crop yields will decrease 10% . World population is increasing about 3% per year. 80 million more people per year is not sustainable. Ocean acidification and over fishing is reducing yields. Approximately 20% of the world's population primary source of protein comes from the ocean. Food security and climate change is linked.