Experts and policy makers from around the world are set to gather in California later this month to discuss the threats climate change may hold for global agriculture, and investigate means of avoiding them.

The international conference, taking place at UC Davis from 20th to 22nd March, has been organised on coordination with the World Bank and follows on from the last such gathering held in the Netherlands in 2011.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi summed up what can be expected from a changing climate and illustrated that agricultural systems all over the world, reliant on geographically specific conditions that have allowed them to flourish, are now under threat. She said, "Climate change, which brings severe weather events and more subtle but equally menacing temperature changes, presents unprecedented challenges to the global community. In California, where we rely heavily on snowmelt for irrigation to grow half of our nation's fruit and vegetables, we are acutely aware that scientists and policymakers must join forces to lessen the potential effects of climate change."

Speakers at the conference will discuss scientific and environmental breakthroughs, which have increased understanding and may well have a part to play in improving climate change and agriculture policies. UC Davis said it hopes conference participants will develop and endorse a declaration regarding the conference's message, in light of information presented and policy suggestions made in Central California next week.    

A university spokesperson said, "This declaration is expected to point toward science-based policies and actions for global agriculture that will mitigate climate change and encourage adaptation to maintain food security, livelihoods and biodiversity."

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack will address the conference on 20th March. Other speakers will include Joseph Alcamo, chief scientist for the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and Patrick Caron, from the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. A number of noted climate experts will also be speaking.