Climate Change and Sustainable Maize Production: Risks, Response and Resilience Pathways

Abstract

Climate change significantly threatens maize (Zea mays L.) production through rising temperatures, erratic precipitation, and extreme weather events, thereby jeopardising global food security. This review synthesises current knowledge on the impacts of climate change, abiotic stresses, crop simulation models, and adaptation strategies for maize. A bibliometric analysis of 485 articles published between 2015 and 2025 and indexed in the Web of Science was conducted using VOSviewer. The results showed a significant increase in publications (Mann–Kendall test, p = 0.0001; R2 = 0.8207), with dominant research themes shifting toward climate-smart agriculture and sustainable intensification. Heat stress, drought, and nutrient deficiencies were identified as the primary abiotic constraints. DSSAT-CERES-Maize and APSIM emerged as the most widely used models for assessing climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Effective adaptation measures include the use of resilient varieties, optimised water management, conservation agriculture, and diversified cropping systems. Future research should focus on integrated adaptation approaches, improved model validation, and long-term field studies to enhance maize resilience. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape and highlights critical pathways for ensuring sustainable maize production under changing climate scenarios.