U.N. warns of African food security issues

LUANDA, Angola, May 5 (UPI) -- Sustainable agricultural and natural resource management methods are needed to protect Africa from looming food security issues, a U.N. report said.

A U.N. report on the implications for food security and natural resources management in Africa presented at a conference in Angola warns nations to take action.

The 23-page report said higher temperatures and unpredictable weather could lead to a 7 percent decline in yields for staple crops like maize.

The report said about 30 percent of the people in Africa live in areas prone to drought, while 60 percent of the largest cities are located in vulnerable coastal areas.

The report said that Africa will likely face the impacts from climate change within the next 50 years. With African economies linked to the agricultural sector, the United Nations warns of "serious implications" on food security.

"The presence of major non-climatic stressors that influence sensitivity to changes in climatic conditions, and the endemic poverty often associated with food production exacerbates the situation in Africa," the report adds.

A "business as usual" approach is no longer an option, the report presented by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization warns.