Transcript Presentation - Global Environmental Change and Food Systems

CARDI’s views on the threats to food
security caused by environmental change
Presented by
Wendel Parham PhD
Executive Director
Presented at GECAFS/SANREM CRSP Caribbean Project Planning Workshop
CARICOM Headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana
June 16-17
CARDI is owned by 12 member countries of the
Caribbean most of which are small island states
CARDI’s member countries are:
1.
Prone to natural disasters
2.
Vulnerable to disruptions in international transport operations
3.
Experiencing rising temperatures
CARDI has been involved with the preliminary work which
has been done by GECAFS in the Caribbean.
CARDI has also been involved in disaster relief
co-ordination after hurricanes e.g.,
1980’s
St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Dominica.
1990s
Jamaica, Montserrat.
2000s
Antigua, St. Kitts, Grenada
CARDI is the chair of the Caribbean/Florida
Working Group on Invasive Species
CARDI has a project proposal for post disaster
restoration of farmers’ seed supply.
FOOD SECURITY
There is much debate on what this means
Does it mean growing enough food to prevent
hunger/famine? If so the Caribbean is not food secure.
Or does it mean having enough money to purchase food to
supplement the shortfall in local production? If so the
Caribbean is fairly food secure at the moment as income
from tourism is used to import foods for residents and
tourists.
FOOD SECURITY
Even if the Caribbean is presently food secure, it may not
remain so if the effects of climate change are felt.
Effects of Climate Change
1.
Warmer temperatures
2.
More natural disasters (particularly hurricanes)
3.
Perhaps change in rainfall patterns
4.
Coastal erosion
Effects of Warmer Temperatures
1.
Possible loss of plant species diversity
2.
Loss of comparative advantage for growing warm-weather
crops
3.
High sea temperatures will affect marine life and fisheries
4.
Tourists may not enjoy hot conditions
5.
More energy needed to fuel cooling plants (air
conditioners, refrigerators)
6.
Possible increase in pests/diseases
Effects of Natural Disasters
1.
Tourist infrastructure destroyed or damaged
2.
Tourists reluctant to visit in hurricane prone months
3.
Disruption to agricultural production.
Effects of Warmer Seas
1.
Migration of fish to cooler waters
2.
Destruction of coral reefs; this will affect tourism
Effects of Possible Rainfall Pattern Change
1.
More difficult to grow crops which are now rain-fed
2.
More difficult to grow crops which give reduced yields
when rain is too high
3.
Perhaps more need for irrigation, but water for this may
not be available
4.
Perhaps more flooding
Effects of Coastal Erosion
1.
Loss of sandy beaches
2.
Destruction of tourist plants
3.
Loss of agricultural lands (e.g., seaside coconut estates)
Research/scientific work needed to improve
food security
1.
Research into high temperature resistant/high temperature
preference varieties
2.
Need for gene banks to preserve diversity
3.
Need for seed banks to restart production after disasters
4.
Need scaled up forecasts to predict future rainfall patterns
Research/scientific work needed to improve
food security (continued)
5.
Research on post harvest and value added processes to
encourage use of locally grown foods
6.
Biotechnology for quick response to disasters and
multiplication of planting material
7.
Control and management of invasive species / new pests
and diseases
8.
Soil and water management regimes
9.
Controlled environment food production (e.g. shade houses)
A public relations campaign is needed
so that:
a.
The public knows what is going to happen
b.
Tourism investment is seen as risky in the long term
c.
Food security is seen to be heavily dependent on local
supplies
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