Climate Change and Agriculture: Understanding the Crisis Nexus
Waseem Uddin *
Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.
K. Srinivas Naik
Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.
G. Vijay Kumar
Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.
Ahmed Muneeb
Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Climate change and agriculture are locked in a profoundly consequential relationship that threatens global food security, ecosystem stability, and the livelihoods of billions of people. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation regimes, increasing frequency of extreme weather events, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and accelerating sea-level rise collectively challenge agricultural systems in ways that are unprecedented in the history of modern farming. Simultaneously, agriculture itself is a significant contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, thereby creating a dangerous feedback loop that demands urgent and integrated responses. While previous reviews have examined specific aspects of the climate change–agriculture nexus, only a few studies have provided an integrated synthesis encompassing biophysical, socioeconomic, mitigation, adaptation, and policy dimensions—an important gap this review seeks to address. This review synthesises evidence from peer-reviewed literature published primarily between 2005 and 2026 to examine the multidimensional interactions between climate change and agricultural systems across diverse regions and crop types. It evaluates the mechanisms through which climatic variables affect crop physiology, soil health, pest and disease dynamics, water availability, and farmer livelihoods, whilst also exploring the pathways through which the agricultural sector contributes to climatic destabilisation. The review further assesses adaptation and mitigation strategies, including precision agriculture, agroecological approaches, climate-smart agriculture, and policy frameworks. A wide range of adaptation strategies—from climate-resilient crop varieties and conservation agriculture to agroecology, digital technologies, and reformed agricultural policies—offer meaningful pathways toward more resilient food systems. Mitigation options within the agricultural sector, including soil carbon sequestration, improved livestock management, and enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, can contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas reduction targets whilst also delivering co-benefits for productivity and environmental quality. The findings underscore the urgent need for transformative governance, cross-sector collaboration, and investment in resilient food systems to avert the most severe consequences of this escalating crisis nexus.
Keywords: Food security, crop yield, adaptation strategies, agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable farming