Nature Climate Change, the latest addition to the Nature branch of science journals, has made its debut in publishing original research with an online paper on climate impacts on African maize yields.

The study, by David Lobell of Stanford University in California and scientists with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico, finds that 1°C of warming would result in yield losses for 65% of the current maize-growing region in Africa. Under drought conditions, 100% of the currently cultivated area would experience yield losses, with 75% of this area suffering losses of at least 20%.

The first print issue of Nature Climate Change, which has been open to submissions since October last year, will appear on 29 March.

The issue will feature several articles on the impacts of climate change on regional food security. Interdisciplinary research, including original social science research, on impacts of climate change on agriculture and other economic sectors will be the new journal’s main focus, says Olive Heffernan, chief editor of Nature Climate Change.