Climate change will claim vast swathes of land needed to grow staple food crops in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly maize, bananas and beans, researchers warned on March 07. Up to 30 percent of areas growing maize and bananas may become unsuitable for the purpose this century, said the authors of a study in the journal Nature Climate Change.
For beans, "this number rises up to 60 percent," said a statement from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture.
This was based on worst case-scenario climate change projections in which greenhouse gas emissions continue rising unabated and temperatures warm as much as 4.8 degrees Celsius (8.65 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial levels this century.
Crops should be replaced with heat- and drought-resistant sorghum or millet to prevent food shortages, said the team.
"Given that solutions such as breeding improved crops can take a minimum of 15 years to complete, the report authors stress the urgency for action," said the statement.
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