What is likely to happen to crop yields if climate change continues to affect agricultural practices?

Climate change poses significant risks to agricultural practices, impacting environmental conditions crucial for crop growth. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events can adversely affect soil health, water availability, and pest and disease management.

In particular, as climate change progresses, many regions may experience droughts or flooding, leading to reduced soil fertility and harsher growing conditions. Crop stress due to heat and water shortages may result in lower yields or crop failures, especially in areas that are already vulnerable due to their reliance on consistent climatic conditions.

The likely decrease in crop yields is also supported by projections indicating that certain staple crops may have reduced grain quality and quantity as a direct consequence of shifting climate patterns. This overall trend aligns with projections made by scientists and agricultural experts regarding the future of food security, where increased temperatures and instability are anticipated to impede agricultural productivity.

While the other choices suggest stability or increases in crop yields, current understanding of climate science indicates that, without significant mitigation measures, the overall direction points towards a decrease in yields in many agricultural systems globally.