UN sees food as climate indicator

UPI: Food security is a key indicator of how vulnerable societies are to the effects of climate change, a scientist at the United Nations said from Rome. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said changes in temperature, precipitation and disease can have a dramatic effect on populations that struggle with access to food.

"If we're looking to assess vulnerability to climate change, it makes very good sense to look at food security as one important indicator," said Alexander Muller, the FAO assistant director general for natural resources. The FAO said in a submission to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change that there is a need to develop staple food crops that can withstand stresses from future climate trends….