Let’s picture a scenario where someone asks you about your greatest enemy. What is the first thing or name that comes into your mind? It could be the lady at the supermarket who met your warm smile with a scowl, or perhaps the HR who “politely” informed you that you’re not qualified for the position, even though you have a background of seven years of experience. Because that is human nature – we often find ourselves agonizing about insignificant details and fixating on superficial concerns, letting them dominate our thoughts while the larger, more urgent issues go overlooked.
Not only your biggest enemy but ours too is the climate crisis; that would be the correct answer. Never before in history have human beings been summoned to act as a whole in defense of the Earth, and that in itself should send a strong message. It may be exaggerated to highlight the potential of the collapse of human civilization due to climate change, so we can instead shift the focus of our discussion to the plethora of industries endangered by climate change, which are agriculture, energy, forestry, livestock, transportation, and tourism. Another fact worth mentioning would be that the climate crisis is predicted to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses by 2050.
Agriculture is one of the sectors that requires immediate action, as climate change is expected to slow crop yield productivity, consequently having wide-ranging and complex effects on the quality of our lives. Basically, climate change has a huge potential to disrupt food availability, affect food quality, and increase malnutrition by reducing nutrient handiness. As food is a non-negotiable essential need, we’re going to explore the synergy between climate change and agriculture, highlighting how and why these two forces interact.
Image source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/selective-shot-golden-wheat-wheat-field_10400022.htm
How Is Climate Change Affecting Crops Worldwide?
As agriculture is highly dependent on the climate, a negative change is set to jeopardize crop yields. Here’s how:
- Increased C02 levels are associated with reduced protein and nitrogen content in soybean pants and alfalfa, causing an unfortunate loss of quality. As agriculture is deeply interconnected with livestock, any disruption in one sector inevitably affects the other, creating a ripple effect that threatens overall food security. For example, reduced grain and forage quality can easily become a huge issue for pasture and livestock.
- Extreme weather events such as high temperatures and precipitation severely impact crops’ growth, with floods and droughts posing the most significant threats (damaging crops and decreasing yields). Even though irrigation is possible in some places, droughts remain a real challenge in areas where torrid summers cause soils to become drier.
- Warmer temperatures, wetter climates, and increased CO2 levels are perfect hosts for weeds, pests, and fungi. Currently, farmers face significant financial burdens fighting weeds and pests and are concerned about their future expansion.
What Are the Most Endangered Crops in a Changing Climate?
Corn
Along with wheat and rice, corn is one of the major crops and is highly vulnerable to high temperatures at the wrong time of year, which can easily result in seed abortion during reproduction.
Moreover, climate change is seriously threatening corn’s phenology and productivity, with a current rate of sensitivity that measures a 15% decline in corn yields. Corn is incredibly susceptible to environmental factors such as rising radiation levels, increased temperature, humidity change, and vapor pressure deficit.
Rice
Climate change is endangering the future of rice, and it simultaneously poses a significant threat to the numerous communities of people that have long embedded it in their diets and livelihoods. Rice has been regarded as the most vulnerable crop to future climate shifts, presenting numerous weaknesses:
- Drought.
- Flooding.
- Rising Temperatures.
- Salinity Intrusion.
- Pests and Diseases.
- Erratic Weather Patterns.
Cocoa
Climate change is severely disrupting cocoa production, threatening yields, quality, and the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide who depend on it. Its status as an organic superfood ingredient is attributed to its numerous health benefits, including decreased inflammation, blood sugar, and weight control, and improved heart and brain health. Moreover, cocoa is particularly significant to the world’s economy, as it generates substantial foreign exchange revenue and employs thousands of people.
Climate change shapes the future of cocoa production, and unfavorable signs are already showing. Many cocoa-producing regions are poised to disappear, mainly because of rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, soil degradation, and deforestation. If these challenges persist, both cocoa companies and global chocolate industries face serious risks, leading to supply shortages and rising prices.
However, if you own a cocoa company, this can only mean one thing – when supply is low, demand surges, driving prices up and positioning you for significant earnings.
Potatoes
Half of the world would be particularly disheartened without their beloved portion of fries.
Thus, potatoes are among the most favored and essential crops, cherished not only for their versatility but also for their role in global food security and culinary traditions. Unfortunately, this plant is highly sensitive to climate changes, presenting a specific vulnerability to heat stress and water overflow. Moreover, potatoes are likely to be affected by shifts in carbon dioxide levels and interactions between climate-changing factors.
Final Thoughts
In a world so fraught with the risk of unraveling, staying informed has become a steadfast anchor. Though climate change may seem an insurmountable challenge and you are a small force against it, it is the smallest acts that drive progress.
As you can see, the agricultural industry stands at risk, and with it, the well-being of us all. Thus, embracing eco-friendliness is no longer a choice – it’s a necessity. It’s true that climate change cannot be entirely stopped, it can be slowed through responsible actions such as amplifying the use of agricultural cover crops, restoring seagrasses, planting trees, reducing emissions, and saving energy.
Be the change you want to see in the world!