How climate change is impacting the Brazilian agricultural sector: Evidence from a systematic literature review
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to global food security, with observed impacts already affecting agriculture. This study aims to systematise and analyse the observed biophysical impacts and their evolution in agriculture in Brazil. For this, we carry out a systematic literature review that includes 1844 articles in the first stage, and 53 articles with synthesised information retrieved. Temperature and precipitation are the most studied climate variables when considering observed climate impact on food production, with corn, soybeans, and sugarcane as the major crops assessed. We also identify regional patterns of both positive and negative trends due to climate change: 67% of assessed studies report negative impacts, 15% both negative and positive, 11% neutral relationships, and only 7% reveal positive effects.
The diversity in scope and methodological approaches across studies presents a challenge, as only a fraction sufficiently contextualises baseline conditions, not allowing for a comprehensive understanding of impact attribution. Nonetheless, the literature spotlights productivity declines in cassava, cocoa, rice, and wheat. As for corn, soybeans, and sugarcane studies, reveal both positive and negative impacts, depending on baseline premises.
The call for more transparent and comprehensive studies is urgent, especially to encompass a broader range of food crops, particularly in family farming systems and across diverse regional scales. Such studies are imperative for advancing evidence-based climate-resilient strategies in agriculture aiming to map and prevent negative impacts, while promoting positive outcomes in food production.
Authors
Specifications
- Publication title
- How climate change is impacting the Brazilian agricultural sector: evidence from a systematic literature review
- Publication date
- 19 July 2024
- Publication type
- Article
- Publication language
- English
- Magazine
- Environmental Research Letters
- Issue
- Volume 19, Number 8
- Product number
- 5644
