Ozone and higher temperatures can combine to reduce crop
yields, but effects will vary by region.
Many studies have shown the potential for global climate
change to cut food supplies. But these studies have, for the most part, ignored
the interactions between increasing temperature and air pollution —
specifically ozone pollution, which is known to damage crops.
A new study involving researchers at MIT shows that these
interactions can be quite significant, suggesting that policymakers need to
take both warming and air pollution into account in addressing food security.