In an era where climate change threatens agricultural production, ensuring sustainable food security requires a holistic approach that goes beyond mere production. It must encompass resource management, the use of technology, and multi-actor policies. Globally, rising temperatures, shifts in precipitation patterns, droughts, floods, and increased pest activity are making food production increasingly unpredictable. According to IPCC reports, climate change could reduce productivity by 10–25% by the end of the 21st century. This situation directly affects not only producers but also consumers, supply chains, and policy makers.

Food security is defined as the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. This concept encompasses food availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. However, factors such as climate change, growing inequalities, political instability, forced migration, and the depletion of natural resources stand out as major threats to food security. According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, between 35 and 122 million people are expected to face a decline in socioeconomic status by 2030, which will further deepen poverty and hinder food security. In this context, understanding the impact of climate change on food systems and developing sustainable solutions is of critical importance both globally and in the Turkish context.

The Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges to food security. Rising temperatures, irregular precipitation patterns, extreme weather events (droughts, floods, storms), biodiversity loss, and land degradation directly affect agricultural production, reducing both the availability and accessibility of food. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, climate change may reduce agricultural productivity by 10–25%, with a particularly severe impact on food insecurity in low-income countries. Moreover, climate-induced challenges such as water scarcity, nitrogen-phosphorus pollution, and increased pesticide use further strain the sustainability of food systems.

Another critical issue in global food systems is food waste. Approximately 1.2 billion tons of food—about one-third of global production—is wasted each year. If post-harvest waste in high-income countries were reduced by 50%, the number of undernourished people in poorer countries could decrease by up to 63 million. In this sense, climate change and food waste emerge as two interconnected barriers to achieving food security.

A Critical Turning Point for Food Security in the 21st Century

Global climate change, through its impacts on agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems, is making access to reliable, nutritious, and affordable food increasingly difficult. These dramatic shifts in climate are rendering food systems unsustainable and pose serious risks to both urban and rural populations. Currently, more than 700 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, and over 2 billion are affected by nutrient deficiencies.

Changing climate not only reduces agricultural productivity but also contributes to the spread of diseases, the proliferation of pests, and the disruption of soil-health relationships—placing significant stress on food systems. Thus, food security has evolved beyond a purely agricultural issue to become a challenge linked to climate, energy, water, and socioeconomic stability.

The Effects of Climate Change on Food Systems

Climate change, through rising temperatures, decreasing precipitation, extreme weather events, and soil degradation, directly affects plant growth. According to the FAO, global agricultural productivity is now showing stagnant trends for the first time in 60 years. Key staple crops like corn, wheat, rice, and soy are expected to suffer yield losses of up to 10%.

More than 70% of global freshwater resources are used for agricultural irrigation. However, droughts, declining groundwater levels, and increased evaporation are overwhelming irrigation infrastructure and causing yield losses.

Migratory pests and diseases, now spreading across borders due to climate change, threaten entire food systems. Invasive species such as Tuta absoluta from Africa are causing severe damage to strategic crops like tomatoes.

Extreme weather events—floods, storms, and droughts—disrupt harvest times, creating multidimensional crises during storage, transportation, and processing stages, leading to food price fluctuations.

Food Security and Climate Change in the Turkish Context

In Turkey, rising temperatures in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions affect fruit and vegetable production, while shifts in rainfall patterns in the Black Sea region impact crops like tea and hazelnuts. The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region is directly affected by dwindling water resources.

Turkish consumers associate freshness, locality, and seasonality with trust. However, when climate conditions hinder access to such products, there is a growing shift toward frozen and processed foods—raising new concerns regarding health and nutrition.

Solution Strategies and Policy Recommendations

The impacts of the climate crisis on food security affect not only the agricultural sector but also energy, water, health, and development policies. Therefore, measures aimed at ensuring food security must be based on scientific data and feature multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary approaches centered on climate adaptation.

Food systems both contribute to and are affected by climate change. This reciprocal relationship underscores the importance of the “climate-smart agriculture” concept developed by the FAO. This approach seeks to increase productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen adaptation. Practices such as heat-resistant seeds, minimum tillage, integrated nutrient management, and rainwater harvesting are prominent under this framework.

In contrast to the homogenizing tendencies of modern agriculture, agroecological approaches promote nature-compatible production systems. Polyculture farming, cover cropping, agroforestry, and biologically respectful soil management not only improve productivity but also reduce climate risks.

Satellite monitoring systems, mobile agricultural apps, and data-driven early warning mechanisms enable farmers to rapidly adapt to changing climate conditions. In developed countries, much of the recent productivity gains are attributed to such digitalization.

Reducing Food Waste

The efficiency of food systems depends not only on how much is produced but also on how much reaches the table. According to UNEP’s 2022 Food Waste Index, one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. This represents not just an economic loss but a massive environmental cost as well. Policies aimed at reducing waste are among the most effective steps for promoting both climate-friendly practices and food security.

Water, one of the most critical inputs in agricultural production, is also among the most vulnerable to climate change. Techniques such as drip irrigation, greywater use, and participatory management of water user associations support both rural development and sustainability.

Sustainable transformation is only possible with the active participation of farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and local governments in decision-making processes. Community-based adaptation models enhance local knowledge and experience, creating a resilient structure against climate impacts.

Climate-Sensitive Incentive Mechanisms

Agricultural subsidy policies are powerful tools for shaping production practices. However, distributing these supports without considering environmental impacts may increase systemic fragility in the long term. Therefore, new-generation support models should be developed—ones that encourage climate-friendly practices and integrate climate risks into insurance systems.

Since the impacts of climate change vary regionally, it is crucial to strengthen research infrastructure to develop locally tailored solutions. Agricultural R&D investments should be expanded in collaboration with the private sector.

Coordinated Policies in Food Trade

Climate-induced supply fluctuations directly affect food import and export policies. Therefore, regional cooperation, food reserve systems, and stable trade rules during crises are becoming increasingly vital.

Cities are not only consumption hubs but also the primary destinations of rural-to-urban migration. As such, practices like urban agriculture, vertical farming, and community gardens should be supported—not only to increase production but also to foster social solidarity.

Climate change and food security are issues that transcend national borders and require global coordination. Enhancing access to financial and technological resources for developing countries, effective use of mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, and the establishment of regional platforms for knowledge and experience sharing are all critically important in this regard.

Food security is not solely about production volume; it is also about resilience, sustainability, and equity. As this complex structure becomes even more fragile under the pressure of climate change, multidimensional approaches to solutions become essential. Without integrated strategies encompassing agriculture, energy, urban planning, and social policy, a climate-resilient and just food system will remain out of reach.