Climate change and horticultural crop productivity: Impacts, adaptation, and mitigation strategies

Abstract

Climate change is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, with significant implications for horticultural systems worldwide. Fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, spices, and plantation crops are particularly vulnerable to shifting climatic patterns, which can lead to altered phenology, reduced productivity, compromised quality, and heightened susceptibility to pests and diseases. Temperature extremes, erratic rainfall, elevated CO₂ levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events disrupt normal growth cycles and physiological processes, threatening both yield and nutritional quality. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of climate change on horticultural crop production, emphasizing both biotic and abiotic stressors. It provides an in-depth analysis of adaptation strategies, including the development of climate-resilient cultivars, optimized irrigation and nutrient management, use of protective structures, and integrated pest and disease management practices. The review also discusses mitigation approaches that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resource-use efficiency within horticultural systems. Furthermore, the paper highlights emerging research areas, such as the integration of precision agriculture, remote sensing, and modeling tools to predict crop performance under future climate scenarios. Policy interventions, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative frameworks are identified as essential for implementing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. By consolidating scientific evidence and practical approaches, this review underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to sustain global horticultural productivity and ensure food security. Ultimately, addressing climate change impacts through informed strategies will help build resilient horticultural systems capable of meeting the nutritional and economic demands of a growing global population.