The Food Security Challenge
Food insecurity is a major social and economic condition that is characterized by limited access to food. In 2017, it was estimated that about forty million people in America were food insecure (Myers, et al. 259). One of the factors that have contributed to food insecurity in Florida is the climate. Over the years, climatic conditions have changed the farming pattern in different parts of the world. Some of the common crops grown in Florida include rice, wheat, and corn, and the climatic changes have contributed to changes in temperature levels as well as carbon dioxide.
Increase in Carbon (IV) Oxide Levels
The increase in the carbon (IV) oxide levels increases plant growth, while increased levels affect crop yields. It contributes to a reduction of protein and nitrogen content in crops, which leads to loss of quality. Additionally, it also reduces the nutrients contained in the crops by decreasing the protein as well as other essential minerals. Plants also lose their forage due to excess carbon IV oxide levels, which leads to a decrease in pasture affecting the livestock as well. These levels also affect flowering, which in turn reduces the farm yields, which lead to food insecurity (Campbell, et al. 34).
Extreme Temperatures
Rising temperatures contribute to the drying of the soils, which makes it difficult for the plants to thrive. It is difficult for the soil to support the plants unless there is water for irrigation purposes. However, the high temperatures increase the rates of evaporation, which means the plants require a lot of water to compensate for the lost amounts. The high temperatures also favor the growth of weeds, which compete with the plants for their nutrients, lowering the crop yields and speeding of diseases (Campbell, et al. 34). They also contribute to an increase in higher water temperatures, which has led to marine diseases outbreaks. The heatwaves also contribute to the prevalence of livestock diseases reducing their fertility as well as milk production.
Impacts of Climate Change
It is clear that the two factors contribute greatly to a decrease in food production in the region. Reduction in the nutrients levels in the foods means they will not supply necessary nutrients to the people (Campbell, et al. 40). The extreme temperatures prompt people to rely on irrigation for food production. However, climate changes affect the water supply in the water in water bodies, and there is little water for irrigation purposes. Climatic change has a big impact on the soil as well as its functions on the plants. The scarcity of water leads to the degradation of land in the form of soil erosion, desertification, and salinization (Myers, et al. 269). These factors affect the ability of the soils to support agriculture, which leads to the lowering of crop yields. Moreover, it also affects the hydrological cycle since the soil plays an important role in the storage and distributing of the water that reaches in it. The climate changes will lead to an increase in the rate of evaporation of the water, which could, in turn, lead to floods.
Species Interaction
Climate changes also affect the interaction of species since it leads to a decline in predation pressure. It also affects the cycling of nutrients and biological control of living organisms. For instance, the increase in temperature levels increases the susceptibility of the plants to pests and diseases. In this case, parasitism is promoted, leading to the destruction of the plants leading to a decrease in the crop yields. It also affects the abiotic relationship of the species like the mutualistic organisms to plants like the mycorrhizal fungi that exploit the nutrients (Myers, et al. 268). This leads to a decrease in the nutrients present in the soil for the plants’ uptake, which affects crop production.