China's crops at risk: Climate change boosts spread of crop pests and
diseases

Date:
December 9, 2021
Source:
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
Summary:
Crop pests and diseases in China have significantly increased,
with climate change being one of the relevant drivers, new
research finds.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Crop pests and diseases in China have significantly increased, with
climate change being one of the relevant drivers, new research finds.


========================================================================== Based on a unique, previously unpublished data set ranging from 1970 to
2016, an international team including the Potsdam Institute for Climate
Impact Research (PIK) compared long-term statistical records about pest
and disease occurrence in China with potential climatic driving factors
-- such as temperature, precipitation, humidity -- as well as factors
from farming practices, including for instance fertilizer application, irrigation, use of pesticides. They found that, since the 1970s, the
occurrence of crop pests and diseases in China has increased by a factor
of four. Climate change is responsible for likely about 20 percent of
the observed increase, with great variations between different Chinese provinces.

When looking closer into the climatic driving factors, especially
warmer night temperatures are likely to foster an increased chance for
crop pests and diseases, according to the scientists. Greenhouse gas
emissions from fossil fuel use would increase the warming. The scientists therefore projected how future climate change in China might influence
crop pests and diseases until the end of this century. They found that
in a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions, the occurrence of crop
pests and diseases would further increase.

While the involved uncertainties are substantial, the scientists conclude
that the occurrence, on top of the rise they found for the past half
century, could potentially double.

PIK scientist and study co-author Christoph Mu"ller states:
"Our study shows that climate change affects the occurrence of
crop pests and diseases, which threaten global food production
and food security. This also challenges existing crop protection
systems and overall productivity. These findings should alert
us that better data and more research is needed in this field to
better mitigate the impacts of climate change on food production." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Potsdam_Institute_for_Climate_Impact_Research_(PIK).

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Chenzhi Wang, Xuhui Wang, Zhenong Jin, Christoph Mu"ller, Thomas
A. M.

Pugh, Anping Chen, Tao Wang, Ling Huang, Yuan Zhang, Laurent
X. Z. Li, Shilong Piao. Occurrence of crop pests and diseases has
largely increased in China since 1970. Nature Food, 2021; DOI:
10.1038/s43016-021-00428-0 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211209124223.htm

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