Climate change can affect food output: Professor Ravi Goonaretne
He pointed out that Indian industries were expanding rapidly and the rise in use of oil or coal was causing a lot of carbon emissions.
Bengaluru: “Many children in India face a problem of malnourishment. This is because agriculture here has been affected severely by Climate Change, be it droughts or floods. Not only is the temperature rising, but the climate is unseasonal,” said Professor Ravi Goonaretne, Lincoln University in New Zealand.
While speaking on ‘Effect of Climate Change on Food Security and Safety’ at the University of Agricultural Sciences here, he pointed out that Indian industries were expanding rapidly and the rise in use of oil or coal was causing a lot of carbon emissions. The carbon dioxide traps the heat from the sun, making the earth warmer. Due to this effect on the climate, crops too are getting affected, he explained
He exhorted the governments to start focusing on improving crop varities. More food must be grown from the same seeds. For example, one rice seed can be made to produce multiple rice varieties. Just like there are Kiwis and also Golden Kiwis these days.”
As for India he said being a tropical country it is conducive to bacteria, which could affect our food safety. However, the locals have higher levels immune to this since birth.
Addressing Climate Change on a global scale, he said, “The public must be educated about food safety, storing methods, importance of water as only eight percent of the world's water can be used for drinking. As of now, we have industries recycling waste water. Soon we will have to recycle waste water for drinking purposes too.”