There is no secret, the world's climate is changing now more than ever. What was a long time ago a far off warning has become a very real way of life, the way we live, eat, and grow our food. Agriculture, which has been the lifeblood of humanity, is the central point of this global change. Scorching heat waves and unpredictable precipitation are but a few of the changes that climate change is imposing on the principles of farming, and its impacts go way beyond the farmlands.
A Changing Climate, A Changing Harvest
The farmers have always been relying on the constant weather patterns - the appropriate quantity of rainfall, sun rays, and changes of seasons. But the climate has caused that beat to become a mess. Plants which had previously thrived in stable climates are failing to cope with new extremes.
As an example, the long term droughts in Africa have caused millions of people to suffer a food insecurity situation, and flooding in South Asia has cleared acres of rice fields. Heatwaves have reduced the yield of wheat in some regions of Europe, and in the Americas, coffee and corn are both struggling with increases in temperature.
It is simple: the food systems of the planet are strained, we are not adapting anymore, but rather we must adapt.
Crops on the Edge
Crops do not react to climate change in the same way. There are those that flourish in heat and others wither.
The most important staples in the world, such as wheat, rice and maize, are very sensitive to rises in temperature. Even a 2 °C increase will result in a possible decrease in yields of up to 20%.
Coffee crops, mainly Arabica beans, are experiencing extinction in the traditional growing areas due to the change in the ideal altitudes and temperatures.
Grape harvests in vineyards in France, Italy and Spain are earlier than ever, and this has changed the tastes and quality of centuries-old wines.
In the meantime, some cooler places, such as parts of Canada or Northern Europe, are in fact experiencing longer growing periods. Nevertheless, this may not be so good because with changing climates, pests will change, soils will not be healthy, and there will be no certainty about the water supply.
The Water Crisis Underneath the Soil
Water would be the signature of climate change, whether it has too much of it or too little. Areas which were traditionally fertile are experiencing increasing droughts, which have made farmers dependent on deep wells and irrigation systems, which also drain the groundwater.
Extreme rain and flash floods, on the contrary, are eroding the top soil, the fertile zone of minerals and nutrients the crops rely on. It is said that it takes centuries to be replenished once it is eroded. The rising sea levels are also a menace to the coastal farms and have caused intrusion of saltwater, which kills the freshwater crops.
The irony? Another one of the largest threats to agriculture is now becoming water, the lifeblood of agriculture.
Livestock & Fisheries Feeling the Heat
Crops are not the only ones that are struggling; animals are struggling as well. High temperatures lower the productivity of livestock, which affects milk and meat production. Diseases are more likely to emerge when animals are stressed by heat, whereas alteration in weather influences grazing land.
In the meantime, the world is experiencing the destruction of fisheries due to ocean warming and acidification. Coral reefs that are important breeding areas for numerous species are being killed at a very fast rate. This is a ripple effect that is endangering the livelihoods of more than 3 billion individuals who are the main consumers of seafood as the main source of protein.
Technology: Agriculture, Great Secret Weapon
But all hope isn't lost. Innovation is also assisting farmers to rebel across the globe.
- Precision farming is an approach which involves drones, sensors, and data analytics to maximise irrigation and fertiliser application.
- Crops resistant to climate are also being developed that will survive droughts, floods and pests.
- Vertical and hydroponic agriculture are changing the appearance of the fields, since crops can now be cultivated in a controlled, urban space.
- Artificial intelligence based weather prediction is assisting farmers in making sowing and harvesting arrangements more precise than ever before.
These innovations are changing farming to a hi-tech sector, one that is learning how to survive on dodged bullets.
A Global Responsibility
Climate change knows no boundaries, and neither does its effect on agriculture. Food systems have close interdependence, as a poor harvest in one part of the world can lead to food shortages and high prices elsewhere in the world.
This is why it is important to collaborate. The world needs to unite in creating resilience through international climate agreements, all the way to sustainable farming programs. It is not an environmental act, but a survival act to reduce emissions and encourage regenerative farming, to give financial and technological assistance to farmers.
The Future of Food
Scanning through the future, there is one thing that is accurate, and that is agricultural change, or it will not survive. The farmers will be forced to innovate, governments will be forced to focus on food security and consumers, who are all of us, will be forced to learn to appreciate sustainability more than convenience.
The planet is giving us a clear message: it is time to change. Due to the fact that in the climate change narrative, agriculture is not only a casualty but also a solution.
Our next generation in agriculture is based on our current actions. The only way that we will be able to persevere in the change and not only make the transition but also flourish due to it is by instilling resilience, re-evaluating how we grow food, and restoring the planet that sustains us.
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