A study published in Nature Communications reveals that climate variability explains about a third (32-39%) of global crop yield variability, with significant regional differences. The research, using detailed crop statistics from 13,500 political units, shows that in many major global crop production areas, over 60% of yield variability is linked to climate factors. Climate variability has the greatest impact on maize, rice, wheat, and soybean yields, with temperature and precipitation variations playing key roles. For example, in the U.S. Midwest and China's corn belt, climate variability explains up to 42% of yield variability. In South Africa, over 60% of maize yield variability is explained by climate factors. The study highlights that climate variability is a major driver of crop yield fluctuations, with implications for food security and farmer incomes. It also shows that in some regions, such as parts of India and Brazil, climate variability explains a large portion of yield variability, while in others, it has little impact. The findings suggest that future research and policy should focus on regions where climate variability is most influential in crop production. The study also notes that while climate variability is a significant factor, it is not the only one affecting crop yields, and other factors such as pest infestations and irrigation practices also play a role. The research provides a detailed spatial analysis of how climate variability affects crop yields globally, offering insights into how to better manage future food production in the face of climate change.A study published in Nature Communications reveals that climate variability explains about a third (32-39%) of global crop yield variability, with significant regional differences. The research, using detailed crop statistics from 13,500 political units, shows that in many major global crop production areas, over 60% of yield variability is linked to climate factors. Climate variability has the greatest impact on maize, rice, wheat, and soybean yields, with temperature and precipitation variations playing key roles. For example, in the U.S. Midwest and China's corn belt, climate variability explains up to 42% of yield variability. In South Africa, over 60% of maize yield variability is explained by climate factors. The study highlights that climate variability is a major driver of crop yield fluctuations, with implications for food security and farmer incomes. It also shows that in some regions, such as parts of India and Brazil, climate variability explains a large portion of yield variability, while in others, it has little impact. The findings suggest that future research and policy should focus on regions where climate variability is most influential in crop production. The study also notes that while climate variability is a significant factor, it is not the only one affecting crop yields, and other factors such as pest infestations and irrigation practices also play a role. The research provides a detailed spatial analysis of how climate variability affects crop yields globally, offering insights into how to better manage future food production in the face of climate change.