【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. drought / draʊt / (n.) – a long period when rain rarely or does not occur
Example: Drought dries out the soil.
2. yield / yild / (n.) – the quantity of harvested crops
Example: The crop yield decreased last year.
3. impact / ˈɪm pækt / (n.) – a strong effect
Example: Favorable weather has a great impact on agriculture.
4. proliferate / prəˈlɪf əˌreɪt / (v.) – to multiply or to increase in terms of quantity
Example: Pests, such as insects, often proliferate during hot weather.
5. resilient / rɪˈzɪl yənt, -ˈzɪl i ənt / (adj.) – being able to recover even after a bad event
Example: Some crops are more resilient to higher temperatures.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
The world’s food supply in the coming decades is now threatened as climate change continues to worsen.
Because of climate change, the world is experiencing an increase in drought and frequent changes in weather patterns. These, unfortunately, have a direct effect on food production, specifically the world’s crop yield.
The world’s population is expected to increase from seven billion to more than nine billion by 2050. Experts worry that the world may not be able to provide enough food for the whole population decades from now.
Aside from food production, climate change may also have a big impact on food security. This is because more pathogens, such as germs and bacteria, grow as the temperature increases, thus increasing the risk of food contamination. Crops may also suffer from pests and diseases that might proliferate should climate change further worsen.
Climate change may also directly affect food distribution. Extreme weather conditions that cause storms and floods may prevent farmers from transporting their products to the markets, especially those that are far from farms.
The European Commission has suggested ways in which agriculture can deal with climate change. One way is for farmers to adjust their crop rotation to when water is most available. Another way is planting crops that are more resilient to extreme weather conditions.
Each country’s government may help address this problem by ensuring farmers are more aware and well-informed about climate risks. Providing agricultural innovations and training may also help farmers cope with climate change.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Aside from climate change, what else can threaten the world’s food production? Kindly discuss.
· Do you think it is possible to completely solve the problem on climate change?
Discussion B
· How can we ensure sufficient food supply in the future?
· What do you think would be the world’s agricultural situation 50 years from now?
