Climate change and food security: risks and responses

disaster risk reduction and disaster risk 
management
(DRR/DRM) strategies to address the risks of extreme events. A change in 
the approach to disaster risk reduction is required, in order to prioritize the reduction and 
proactive management of risks rather than reacting to events. Field-based evidence shows 
that DRR is cost-effective: for every USD1 spent on DRR, USD2–4 are returned in terms of 
avoided or reduced disaster impacts.
Build resilience of agricultural systems
Agricultural systems can be made more resilient, by implementing measures that are very 
system- and local-specific. Individual farmers, forest dwellers, fisherfolk and those along the 
supply chain will need to adopt a suite of measures, the details of which will be contingent on 
individual circumstances. Broad adaptation strategies can be identified. 
Increasing the efficiency of scarce resource use in productive systems
, particularly water, 
is an important aspect of building resilient livelihoods. Climate change is altering rainfall and 
water availability patterns, making capacity to deal with water scarcity (or overabundance) 
essential to maintaining productivity levels. Adaptation measures can include water harvesting 
and storage, access to irrigation, improved irrigation technologies, as well as agronomic 
practices that enhance soil water retention such as minimum tillage, and increase in soil carbon 
and organic matter, among others. 
Adaptation measures for crops 
can include the use of adapted varieties or breeds, with 
different environmental optima and/or broader environmental tolerances, including currently 
neglected crops, also considering that increased diversification of varieties or crops is a way to 
hedge against risk of individual crop failure. Adaptive changes in crop management – especially 
planting dates, cultivar choice and sometimes increased irrigation – have been studied to 
varying extents and are generally estimated to have the potential to increase yields by about 
7–15 percent on average, though these results depend strongly on the region and crop being 
considered. Changes in post-harvest practices, for example the extent to which grain may 
require drying and how products are stored after harvest.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY: RISKS AND RESPONSES