Rising temperatures could hurt productivity (or yields) of important crops according to a series of studies. A recent paper by two economists stated that although yields of corn, soybeans, and cotton increase with temperatures up to an average of 84 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the growing season, after that point yields plummet.

Assuming that we continue to grow these crops in the same regions and that we reduce global warming emissions to half of 1991 levels by 2050, yields could fall by 30 to 46 percent by the end of the century. If emissions continue unabated—the worst-case scenario considered—yields could drop by 63 to 82 percent. The effects of climate change are expected to hit even harder in developing countries.

Read the study abstract in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or read a blog post about it by one of the authors.
www.pnas.org/content/106/37/15594.abstract
greedgreengrains.blogspot.com/2009/08/nonlinear-temperature-effects-indicat...

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