Climate Change Could Increase Crop Toxicity and Diseases
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report on Friday suggesting that climate change might boost crop toxicity and zoonotic diseases worldwide.
UNEP’s Frontiers report has identified, underlined and offered solutions to six emerging issues, like the danger to human health posed by the shocking amount of plastic garbage ending up in oceans and the vital role the financial sector of the world can play in driving Earth to a low-carbon, resource-efficient future.
Climate change has a huge impact on food safety and security, and the report has looked at how drought and high temperatures can set off the buildup of chemical compounds in crops, which makes them dangerous for animals and humans.
Wheat, barley, maize and millet are on the hit list. These crops are staples and face the highest risk of nitrate accumulation, for which prolonged drought is to be blamed. In severe cases, nitrate poisoning in animals can cause miscarriage, asphyxiation and life loss, destroying the lives of smallholder farmers and herders.
http://nhv.us/content/16056370-climate-change-could-increase-crop-toxicity-and-zoonotic
Graham Rawlings