Feed the Future Research Series Part III: Climate Change and
Agriculture  December 20, 2012  Feed the Future strategies for
food security are designed not only to accelerate agriculture-
led growth and reduce undernutrition, but also to encourage
sustainable and equitable management of land, water, fisheries,
and other resources.  Feed the Future Intern Christopher Chapman
asked conservation agriculture expert Bruno Gerard (pictured
left) how climate change relates to agricultural development.
1. How are climate change and agriculture related?  Gerard: All
plants depend on water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to perform
photosynthesis; the degree to which each species needs each of
these things is variable. Climate change is induced by higher
levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which alone
is good for crops because it makes it easier for plants to pull
the carbon dioxide from the air.  Unfortunately, increased
greenhouse gas in the atmosphere also changes the radiative and
energy balance of th