A new report said the world is "woefully unprepared" for the upcoming climate change-related food crisis.
The report, which is in the process of being released will show that the effect of climate change on global food will be more serious than researchers previously believed, an Oxfam America news release reported.
"California's searing drought should show us that unless we change course, no country or company is immune to the havoc climate change will pose on what we eat," Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America, said in the news release. "Hunger is not inevitable. If companies and governments get serious about slashing carbon pollution and preparing for rising temperatures, we can overcome this challenge."
The study looked at 10 factors that will have on influence the world's ability to feed its residents.
Rich countries have promised in the past to financially support less fortunate countries as climate change makes it increasingly difficult to feed themselves; so far they have only supplied about two percent of the promised money. Only about one percent of farmers in many poor countries have crop in insurance while in the U.S. that number is at 91 percent.
Irrigation was also a large factor; in California 80 percent of arable land is covered in crops, but that number can be as low as one percent in regions like Niger. Seed variation has declined by 75 percent over the past century, this reduces the chances of certain crops surviving future weather changes.
The other factors looked at by the researchers included: weather forecasting; social protection and safety nets; gender discrimination; food stocks; agricultural investments; and humanitarian aid.
"Building our preparedness for climate extremes need not break the bank," Offenheiser said. "The total adaptation needs of poor countries are estimated to be approximately $100 billion per year - equivalent to just five percent of the wealth of the world's richest 100 people."
