Climate Change to Trigger Giant Megaswarms of Desert Locusts, Study Warns

Climate Change to Trigger Giant Megaswarms

VoM News Desk | February 19, 2024 | 07:05 PM IST | Breaking News, Climate & Environment | Follow on Google News

Climate Change to Trigger Giant Megaswarms of Desert Locusts, Study Warns

Climate Change to Trigger Giant Megaswarms of Desert Locusts, Study Warns

A new study by scientists from the National University of Singapore, published in the journal Science Advances, has warned that climate change could soon lead to giant ‘megaswarms’ of desert locusts, described by the United Nations as the “most destructive migratory pest in the world.”

The research reveals a robust link between large locust swarms and specific weather patterns. Climate change is projected to expand locust habitat by up to 25%, leading to devastating effects on the global food chain.

The study, based on a comprehensive analysis of a UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) database covering locust outbreaks from 1985 to 2020 across 36 countries, emphasizes the potential threat to global food security.

Even with significant carbon emissions reductions, there is still an estimated 5% increase in locust habitat.

The megaswarms, covering vast distances and consuming large quantities of crops daily, could result in widespread crop failures, particularly in critical regions like Africa and South Asia, posing a significant risk to global food supplies.

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