2023 Winning Essay – Shandra H

Shandra H, 100% Scholarship Winner

How do the changes in the climate affect farming agriculture?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines climate change as a significant change in various aspects of the earth, such as temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns over a long period.1 Climate change is closely related to carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. Gas carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas that contributes the most to climate change, with a total of 56%, while Methane (CH4) contributes 18% and nitrous oxide (N2O) about 6%2

As the closest sector of life to the climate, farming agriculture has a destructive impact. Climate change is causing a sharp deterioration in the quality and quantity of plants3. Also, the occurrence of phenological and reproductive conditions of plants caused by adverse climatic conditions and the impacts caused not only affect plants, but part of the biotic interaction disrupted4

It is one of the leading suppliers in the economic sector in almost all parts of the world, making farming agriculture the fastest exposed to negative effects. There have been a series of climate change cases that have threatened the ‘lives’ of farmers. In Java, Indonesia, every time there is an increase of 1 degree in temperature, rice production will decrease by up to 15%.5 New South Wales (NSW) experiences low rainfall in some areas and occasional extreme rainfall that damages crop growth.6 In the United States (US), in 2012, there was a ‘loss of Michigan cherries’ due to rising temperatures at night, causing losses of up to $220 million.

7 In relation to farming agriculture, carbon dioxide makes weeds increase dramatically to reach 76% to 128%,8 and Weed infestation causes severe yield losses, which can reach 100% in the early stages9 and This makes enormous losses for the farming agriculture sector. 

In this problem, there must be changes in both life patterns and infrastructure in supporting farming agriculture. “Having the right policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This offers significant untapped potential,” said IPCC Co-chair Priyadarshi Shukla in an interview with BBC.10

There are many simple ways to prevent the occurrence of sustainable effects on the sector. The simplest (but most impactful) way is to stop deforestation and increase reforestation. Deforestation is known to be one of the activities that contribute to a sharp spike in Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.11Avoiding deforestation is not easy. It requires increasing the effectiveness of international policies related to climate change prevention so that campaigns stop deforestation and increase reforestation can be carried out optimally.12 In addition, technologists and scientists can take advantage of carbon dioxide (CO2) by capturing and storing it13 and then converting it into a gas that is concentrated on appropriate levels to support agriculture.14 Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can increase farmers profits.

References

Agriculture and Climate. (n.d.). Retrieved from EPA.GOV: https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/agriculture-and-climate#

Dewi, P. P. (2009). Climate change impacts on tropical agriculture and the potential of organic agriculture to overcome these impacts. https://repository.ipb.ac.id/ , 12.

Gil-Chang, K. (2012). The Impact of Climate Change on the Agricultural Sector: Implications of the Agro‐Industry for Low Carbon, Green Growth Strategy . www.unescap.org, 12.

Ernakovich, e. a. (2014). Predicted responses of arctic and alpine ecosystems to altered seasonality under climate change. onlinelibrary.wiley.com. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12568

Yuliawan & Handoko. (2016). The Effect of Temperature Rise to Rice Crop Yield in Indonesia uses Shierary Rice Model with Geographical Information System (GIS) Feature. www.sciencedirect.com , 25.

Anonymous. (n.d.). Climate change impacts on our agriculture. Retrieved from www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au: https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/agriculture

Anonymous. (n.d.). Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply. Retrieved from climatechange.chicago.gov: https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climateimpacts-agriculture-and-food-supply

Osunleti, e. a. (2022). PROFITABILITY AND TIME CONSUMPTION AS INFLUENCED BY VARIOUS WEED CONTROL METHODS IN CURCUMA AMADA ROXB. agrise.ub.ac.id, 154.

Ambe, J.T., Agboola, A.A. and Hahn, S.K. (1992). Studies on weeding frequency in cassavain Cameroon. Tropical Pest Management 38: 302-304

Matt, M. (n.d.). Climate change: IPCC scientists say it’s ‘now or never’ to limit warming. www.bbc.com.

Anonim. (2018, January 8). What is the role of deforestation in climate change and how can ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation’ (REDD+) help? Retrieved from www.lse.ac.uk: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/whats-redd-and-will-ithelp-tackle-climate-change/

Thornton, e. a. (2018). Agriculture in a changing climate: Keeping our cool in the face of the hothouse. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329476848. DOI: 10.1177/0030727018815332

Anonymous. Carbon dioxide capture and storage: A route to net zero for power and industry. (n.d.). royalsociety.org, 8.

Rustin, W. (2022, May 16). Carbon Dioxide For Plant Growth In Controlled Environments. Retrieved from minearc.com: https://minearc.com/carbon-dioxide-for-plant-growthcontrolled-environments/?cn-reloaded=1

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