Is the climate crisis triggering a food crisis?

Warm winters and insufficient snowfall reduce soil water retention capacity, leading to increased harmful organisms and premature flowering in plants. This situation causes losses in agricultural production while deepening the food crisis. The coldest days have passed. Spring is coming. Air, water, and soil are warming. Nature is awakening. However, as we celebrate nature's awakening this time, rising temperatures and changing climate conditions fuel our concerns about risks in food production. According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, every month since June 2023 has been the warmest month on record. According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, seasonal norms were exceeded in many parts of Turkey. Average temperatures in January 2024 exceeded normal levels by 2.8°C in our country and was the warmest January in the last 53 years.

What do rising temperatures mean for agricultural production?

Drought tops the list of problems caused by the climate crisis and rising winter temperatures. Our position as a water-scarce country further increases risks in food production. As temperatures rise and soil moisture decreases, more irrigation is required to achieve soil water saturation. High heat changes soil nitrogen content and pH values and microbial composition, negatively affecting soil nutrients and plant health, causing production losses. Organic farmer Gürsel Tonbul states that high temperatures cause harmful microorganisms to proliferate in soil, while slowed photosynthesis reduces plant growth and pollination ability, and also leads to fires in gardens and forests, mass tree die-offs, and plant epidemic diseases.

Irregular and excessive rainfall negatively affect production

While drought may be the first consequence of rising temperatures, excessive and irregular rainfall is one of the most serious problems of the climate crisis. Excessive rainfall increases soil water saturation, reducing oxygen levels and increasing moisture, leading to increased pests and diversification and multiplication of plant diseases. Irregular rainfall can cause disruptions in plant sowing and planting schedules. Producers participating in meetings with stakeholders of the Climate-Friendly Farms project, carried out by the Wheat Ecology Life Support Association together with Köy-Koop İzmir, stated that the most serious problem regarding the climate crisis is irregular rainfall and temperature fluctuations. Producers experiencing severe crop losses due to seasonal fluctuations note that warm winter months lead to significant pest infestations, with moths destroying all tomatoes in the field in 3 days. Research on climate change impacts on plants shows that temperature increases and changes in precipitation patterns will cause major changes in agricultural production and may lead to significant declines in the production of staple food products such as wheat. Rising temperatures are seen to affect the geographic distribution of plants and may cause some plant species to migrate. Another study indicates that warm winters may alter plants' biological clocks and phenological cycles. This situation requires a reassessment of agricultural production patterns and methods and the development of climate change adaptation strategies.

Snow cover reduces drought and frost risk

In addition to rising temperatures, there is a reduction in winter snowfall. Yet snowfall has very important agricultural functions. Snow cover provides thermal insulation to the soil, preventing plants from being affected by cold air conditions during winter months. Snowfall plays an effective role in maintaining the natural balance of groundwater. The gradual melting of snow allows water to be retained in the soil for longer periods, creating a favorable environment for plant root development. Drought risk and plants' irrigation needs decrease. Organic farmer Şaban Burhan states that in years with normal snowfall, soil water saturation was achieved with 6 hours of irrigation, while in years without snow, even 20 hours of irrigation was insufficient and they experienced yield losses. Şaban Burhan notes that snowfall simultaneously reduces harmful microorganisms, prevents plants and trees from waking too early, reducing frost risk. Burhan states that in years when trees flower early, they experience serious crop losses, and as a result of the resulting price increases, consumers are also affected by the climate crisis.

The path to climate crisis resilience is agriculture in harmony with nature

To adapt to climate change, agricultural methods in harmony with nature play a critical role. The transition to agroecological and regenerative methods is necessary for agricultural production more resistant to drought, disease, and changing climate conditions. Organic farmer Şaban Burhan states that they are less affected by droughts than conventional farmers. Because conventional agriculture is annual yield-focused, yield losses are significant during droughts or seasonal fluctuations experienced that year, while organic agriculture is long-term productivity-focused, resulting in lower annual yield losses related to drought. He also notes that synthetic fertilizers increase irrigation needs, while natural fertilization preserves soil moisture.

Climate-Friendly Farms

The Wheat Association's Climate-Friendly Farms project, conducted in Izmir to increase rural communities' resilience, ensure protection of natural resources and ecosystems, create a holistic model, and increase the agriculture and livestock sector's adaptation capacity to climate change, aims to support farmers and local communities through training, consulting services, and strong partnerships. The Climate-Friendly Farms project, jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and supported under the Climate Change Adaptation Grant Program administered by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, is implemented in partnership with Köy-Koop İzmir and Deafal from Italy, and will last 18 months. During the project period, consultation meetings will be held with local stakeholders, pioneer farmers and farms will be selected, and ecological cycles and ecosystem functions will be examined at the farms. Following the preparation of a situation analysis report that includes stakeholders' views on climate change impacts on agriculture, training and consulting will be provided to pioneer farmers. As part of the project, a handbook supporting climate-friendly agricultural practices will be prepared and distributed to producers. Capacity-building activities will also be conducted to strengthen short food supply chains in the region and help relevant stakeholders transition to climate-friendly agricultural practices. These activities will be supported by communication and dissemination activities such as a web page, consumer brochures, webinars, videos, and translation of related documents into Turkish.