An aggressive campaign of agricultural water development could parry the effects of global warming on food security

AA high but feasible 3.6 percent annual increase in investments in irrigation would triple the continent’s irrigated area, markedly improving food supply and nutrition, taming inflation in food prices, and slashing cereal imports.

While the escalation of cereal prices from baseline levels of $117 per ton in 2000 is projected to reach $205 by 2050, greater availability of food would keep the increase down to $177 a ton. Africa’s expected food-trade deficit of more than 98,000 tons in 2050 would be reduced to just 11,000 tons. The number of malnourished children would be 2 million lower than under the lower irrigation scenario, or about the same level that would be expected in the absence of climate change.  

Changes from the baseline for various food-related indicators for 2020 and 2050