Experts analyse effects of climate change on agriculture

Agriculture and climate experts from across the Caribbean are participating in a training workshop on the use of computer modelling programmes to predict the potential effects of climate change on the agriculture sector.

The workshop, which is taking place from 14 to 25 April 2008, at the University of Guyana, is aimed at setting up a network of professionals to carry out future research and analysis on how climate changes are likely to affect agricultural productivity in the region, and how this can be addressed.

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is organising the workshop in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Speaking at the workshop’s opening ceremony, Dr Ulric Trotz of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre said examining the effect of climate change on crops and food production is critical to the region’s future sustainable development.

Computer modelling can help scientists to examine what might happen to the productivity of different crops in a given location under a range of climate change scenarios.

“The skills that we will be developing through this training course at the University of Guyana, will help to ensure that agriculture policy in the Caribbean region takes account of what we know might happen as a result of global warming,” stated Dr Trotz.

He added: “As global temperatures rise, agriculture production in tropical areas like ours is predicted to fall. This could have serious implications for the price and availability of food in the future, for people’s livelihoods, and the level of poverty in our societies.”

Janet Strachan, Adviser, Economic Affairs, at the Commonwealth Secretariat, described the workshop as important in strengthening the region’s ability to minimise the negative impacts of climatic changes on agriculture and ensure better food security.

“In recent weeks we have witnessed a deepening food crisis in the region – one with complex origins involving high oil prices; an increased world population; higher demand; drought in wheat producing areas; and perhaps also the use of crops as biofuels. Climate change will be one more factor that can threaten food security in the region in future,” she noted.

She said the skills learned by experts at the workshop will help the Caribbean to assess the potential problems well ahead of time and take appropriate action.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Guyana
• Sustainability