Protecting Food Crops

Problem

How can we counteract food-supply issues exacerbated by climate change?

• In countries like Nepal, where the economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, predictable monsoon seasons are critical to ensuring an adequate supply of nutritious food.
• With climate change, Nepal is projected to experience increased monsoon rainfall variability, including heavy rain events that threaten to worsen the high rates of poverty and food insecurity.

Findings

A team of scientists examined integrated data from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey with earthquake-intensity data from the U.S. Geological Survey and monsoon rainfall data from the Climate-Weather Research and Forecasting Model.

• They found that more rainfall was positively linked with food insecurity in earthquake-affected regions where the increased precipitation can cause landslides that damage roads, disrupt the distribution of food aid, and destroy agricultural land and assets.

Impact

The findings have significant implications for Nepal—one of the most disaster- prone countries in the world—and for countries around the globe, given the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change.

• The knowledge gained from this study can serve as a platform to create adaptation strategies that will improve global health and promote sustainable development.
• With continued research on the social impacts of compound environmental shocks, scientists can better identify vulnerable groups and more effectively assist communities in recovery and building resilience.

Research Credit

Team

• Heather Randell, Chengsheng Jiang, Xin-Zhong Liang, Raghu Murtugudde, Amir Sapkota

Participating Department

• Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education

Partners

• University of Maryland
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

Competitive Funding

• National Science Foundation (Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems)

Federal and State Appropriations

• USDA NIFA Hatch Multistate Project PEN04623, Accession #1013257

Emerging Discoveries

Study explores link between earthquakes, rainfall and food insecurity in Nepal

September 09, 2021

The effects of monsoon rainfall on food insecurity in Nepal vary by earthquake exposure, with regions that experienced both heavy earthquake shaking and abundant rainfall more likely to have an inadequate supply of nutritious food, according to a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Published Research

Food insecurity and compound environmental shocks in Nepal: Implications for a changing climate.

• Randell, H., Jiang, C., Liang, X. Z., Murtugudde, R., & Sapkota, A. (2021). Food insecurity and compound environmental shocks in Nepal: Implications for a changing climate. World Development, 145, [105511]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105511