IIT Kharagpur study finds surface ozone pollution is impacting rural India; predicts drastic decline in agricultural yield

Surface ozone pollution could impact staple food grains such as wheat, rice and maize, says the study
| Photo Credit: PTI

According to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, surface ozone pollution is having a significant impact on India’s major food crops, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and central India.

The authors of the study claim that the pollutant is hindering the country’s progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ‘no poverty’ and ‘zero hunger’ by 2030.

The research, conducted by Prof. Jayanarayanan Kuttipurath and his team at IIT Kharagpur’s Centre for Oceans, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL), highlights the risks posed by the increasing surface ozone levels to staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize.

In a statement, IIT Kharagpur noted that the study, titled ‘Surface ozone pollution-driven risks for the yield of major food crops under future climate change scenarios in India’, revealed how this “lesser-known but potent threat” could drastically reduce agricultural yields. “Surface ozone is a strong oxidant that damages plant tissues, leading to visible foliar injuries and reduced crop productivity,” the institution explained.

The statement further elaborated on the vulnerability of staple food grains such as wheat, rice and maize: “Consequently, achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger) by 2030 is a daunting task in the wake of rising air pollution, population growth and regional climate change. To protect crop health and ensure our food security, atmospheric pollution must be reduced and monitored.”

Using data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase-6 (CMIP6), the research assessed historical trends and future projections of ozone-induced yield losses. The findings indicate that under high-emission scenarios with insufficient mitigation, wheat yields could suffer an additional 20% reduction, while rice and maize may experience losses of around 7%.

The study identifies the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Central India as particularly vulnerable regions, where ozone exposure levels could potentially exceed safe limits by as much as six times. IIT Kharagpur warned that this could have serious implications for food security, not only domestically but also globally, as India exports significant amounts of food grains to several Asian and African nations. “[These challenges] pose significant threats to achieving the two Sustainable Development Goals,” the institution added.

While India has implemented the National Clean Air Programme primarily focused on combating urban air pollution, the study underscores that agricultural regions often remain unaddressed. The research calls for urgent, targeted policies to monitor and curb air and ozone pollution specifically in farmland areas. Implementing effective emission reduction strategies, the study suggests, could enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to safeguarding global food supplies.