ABSTRACT
In 1990 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change completed its report on the greenhouse effect. Probably the most important consequences of projected changes in climate for agriculture would stem from higher actual évapotranspiration, primarily as a result of higher temperatures of the air and land surface. In many regions of the world agricultural production is currently limited by climate, most of this limitation being in developing countries. Whether or not they are located in resource-poor countries, there is also a strong indication that marginal agriculture and marginal farmers may be most vulnerable both to short-term variations of weather and longer-term changes of climate. The potential base for rainfed agriculture is therefore very limited in some regions and any further curtailment of potential due to changes of climate could severely strain their ability to feed local populations. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.
