ROME, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The international community is in desperate need of agricultural practices that are climate friendly, a United Nations' food agency report concluded.
Alexander Mueller, the assistant director general for agriculture at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, warned that agricultural production is expected to experience major challenges in part due to rising food demand.
A 48-page report from the FAO calls on developing countries to adapt "climate smart" agricultural strategies to address competing challenges of climate change and expected population growth.
The report warns that climate change is expected to lower agricultural productivity, putting pressure on food security issues.
The agricultural sector, the report warns, must adopt practices that make farming more able to withstand floods, droughts and other natural disasters. Meanwhile, the agricultural community needs to make better use of water and land resources while reducing its impact on the environment.
"Agriculture in developing countries must undergo a significant transformation in order to meet the related challenges of food security and climate change," the report warns.
The report comes as world leaders prepare for a Hague conference on food security and climate change that starts Sunday.
