Effect of climatic stimuli on food security in Mauritius: the case of tomato crops

Climate change is literally the hottest issue that we are facing as a global community today. It is believed that climate change will compromise our food security not only by directly impacting on crop production but indirectly by favoring crop diseases. Mauritius is certainly not spared by the effects of climate change as we experience a warming trend with more frequent extreme weather events such as torrential rains and cyclones. This study investigates the possible adverse impact of climate hazards on diseases affecting the tomato crop.  Solanum lycopersicum  was studied as it is one of the most economically important crops of Mauritius and is particularly sensitive to climatic offsets and climate-induced diseases. In this study, bacterial soft rot was studied as it not only causes extensive crop loss but also considerably compromises the marketable quality and safety of the produce. Findings from our lab have revealed that the level of soft rot bacteria on tomato fruits and the incidence of this disease in the field was statistically higher after exposure to climate hazards such as torrential rainfall and cyclones compared to other hazards such as drought or temperature extremes. It is hoped that this presentation will pave the way for multidisciplinary collaborative research and development of multi-pronged solutions for farmers such as the development of early warning tools or efficient drainage systems, all with the view to climate-proofing tomato cultivation.