How Climate Change Is Reshaping the Way We Grow Food

Growing food has never been easy. But now, it is getting even harder.

In California, wildfire season keeps getting longer. In South Asia, rainfall no longer follows a predictable pattern. Farmers are struggling to adapt — and the effects are showing up at the grocery store.

Climate change is hitting agriculture from every direction. And the consequences are landing hardest in places where people already spend most of their income on food.

Air Pollution Is Slowing Down Crops

One threat most people do not see is ozone pollution.

Ozone forms when fossil fuel emissions mix with sunlight. When levels rise, plants struggle to absorb light and grow properly. That means smaller harvests and weaker crops.

In 2022, California almond growers saw yields drop sharply after weeks of wildfire smoke covered their orchards. The ash damaged soil quality and delayed pollination, costing some farms hundreds of thousands of dollars.

When crops fail, prices rise. And those costs ripple far beyond the fields.

Pests Are Expanding Into New Areas

As the planet warms, pests are spreading faster and surviving longer.

In parts of Africa and South Asia, farmers are dealing with swarms of crop-eating insects that once died off during cooler months. Now they survive year-round.

To fight back, many turn to pesticides. But overuse can poison water, damage soil, and harm farmworkers. It also makes farming more expensive — a cost that eventually hits consumers.

In Kenya, tomato growers have seen costs rise 30 percent due to new pest outbreaks and the chemicals needed to control them.

‍

Water Shortages Are the Silent Emergency

Agriculture uses more freshwater than any other industry.

But rising temperatures are drying up rivers, shrinking glaciers, and draining reservoirs. That makes it harder to irrigate crops — especially in areas that depend on seasonal rains or snowmelt.

In Peru’s Sacred Valley, farmers who once relied on glacial runoff are now facing shorter growing seasons and lower yields. Some are switching from potatoes to quinoa, hoping it can survive the changing climate.

Globally, nearly 40 percent of irrigated agriculture could face severe water stress in the next few decades.

That is a crisis in the making.

‍

When Crops Fall, Families Suffer

Food prices are climbing — and the world’s poorest are paying the price.

In some countries, low-income families already spend half their income on food. When drought, pests, or extreme heat cause shortages, those families are often pushed into hunger within weeks.

In 2023, staple food prices in East Africa rose by more than 60 percent following a historic drought. Aid agencies warned of a looming famine in regions already facing conflict and poverty.

Malnutrition is rising. And climate shocks are making it worse.

Without action, the number of people facing food insecurity could reach into the hundreds of millions.

‍

What Can Be Done

The problem is urgent, but there are solutions.

Climate-resilient crops
Scientists are developing seeds that can grow in hotter, drier, and more unpredictable conditions. These include heat-tolerant rice, drought-resistant maize, and flood-resilient wheat.

Smart irrigation
Drip systems, soil sensors, and moisture meters help farmers use less water while protecting yields. In India, farmers using smart irrigation cut water use by 40 percent without reducing output.

Better pest management
Integrated pest strategies use natural predators, crop rotation, and targeted spraying to reduce reliance on chemicals.

Global cooperation
Governments must fund agricultural adaptation, support small farmers, and protect food trade routes. Without coordinated investment, the global food system will stay fragile.

The Bottom Line

Food is the foundation of every society.

If we fail to protect the systems that grow it, we risk far more than higher grocery bills. We risk malnutrition, migration, political instability, and economic collapse.

Climate change is already testing the limits of our ability to grow food.

Now is the time to act — before food insecurity becomes the next global crisis.

‍