Report: Impact of global warming on agriculture has been understated

Scientists are beginning to believe that earlier projections of the effect of global warming on the world’s food supply have understated the impact of climate change on agriculture, Justin Gillis reports in The New York Times.

For many years, scientists predicted that the effects of climate change on agriculture would be manageable–perhaps even beneficial, as carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warning, can stimulate plant growth.

But recent research suggests that the effects will be more negative than expected. New crop varieties and growing techniques can offset some of those consequences, but funding for developing them is scarce.

“If we don’t get started now, we are going to be in serious trouble,” a researcher warned.