Long-term shortage of wheat

Because wheat is a basic food for many parts of the world, wheat shortages and the high prices resulting from a shortage, can seriously affect the economies of importing countries. In a developing country whose local crops have failed, such a shortage may lead to famine.

Australia’s wheat yields more than trebled during the first 90 years of the 20th century but have stalled since 1990. Research published in Global Change Biology in 2018 (https://theconversation.com/changing-climate-has-stalled-australian-wheat-yields-study-71411) shows that rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, in line with global climate change, are responsible for the shortfall.