Abstract
There is now strong evidence that the world has moved into a phase of rapid global climatic change, which combined with an ever-increasing global population this means that the need for sustainable food production and global food security will push current agriculture practices to their limits in the near future. The three main climate related factors that are gaining the greatest attention with respect to crop plant productivity are: elevated CO2 levels, temperature increases (both mean and the temperature range) and water availability. Increases in CO2 and other greenhouse gases are causing global warming and it is now clear that in many parts of the world increases in mean temperatures and the frequency of extreme temperature events, such as heat-waves, are already occurring as a result of climate change. As temperatures rise and global weather patterns change, including the frequency and distribution of rainfall, water availability will become an increasing important factor limiting crop productivity. In this mini-review how plants can adapt to these changes and what we can do to ensure global food security in the face of climate change are considered.