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Wheat is one of the world's primary sources of food, and is grown and consumed all over the globe. While some traditional cooler countries such as Russia and Canada might be able to expand their wheat production, warmer regions such as India and the Wheat Belt in the United States are likely to see drastic decreases in annual crop yields if the Earth warms 1°C (33.8°F), which scientists say is all but inevitable at this point.
There is much to be done to combat or maybe even reverse climate change, but more and more scientists suggest that the best course of action is to start adapting to the future laid out for us: a future where droughts, flooding, and heat waves will become commonplace, and the core crops that we have relied on for centuries may not be viable food options anymore.
Nearly 1.1 billion tons of corn and/or maize are grown across the globe every year, making it far and away the world's most common crop commodity. Unfortunately, this cornerstone of the global diet is not suited for climate change. Corn is particularly susceptible to insufficient rain and soil erosion, the two primary effects of alternating droughts and torrential flooding. In Iowa alone, one of the US's largest corn producers, some estimates say corn production could fall by as much as 50% in the coming decades.
Climate disaster is no longer an impending threat, but a reality in progress. Across the world, crop yields for essential agricultural products are plummeting, and seemingly endless droughts followed by catastrophically torrential rains are beginning to destroy much of the world's viable soil and farmland.
Individual environmental events aside, the Earth is warming at a rate much quicker than scientists estimated 10 years ago. Already, the extreme heat waves and droughts that are affecting nearly every continent have caused food shortages in areas where there once were none, and have worsened food crises in places where food insecurity was already an issue.
Rice, a staple source of carbs in many countries, is also known as being the most water-dependent grain on Earth. That means climate change is bad news for the 3.5 million people on Earth that rely on rice for 20% of their daily calorie intake. Scientists estimate that rice yields could drop as far as 11% by 2050, and Bangladesh has already suffered the loss of 168,000 acres of rice fields due to droughts and heat waves.
As we can see, many of the most essential and sought-after crops and food sources in the world are in grave and immediate danger. Food insecurity is already a global issue, but until now it has been a problem of even distribution. If we are ever to solve that problem, we cannot allow it to become an issue of scarcity as well. That means we must prepare for a new, warmer future, with more dramatic fluctuations in weather. Scientists and ecologists agree that biodiversity is the key, and it is high time we start looking at other, sturdier, and more heat-and-drought-resistant crops that can supplement our meals in the future.
The Southeast African country of Zimbabwe has a tragic history of long periods of droughts, making agriculture a perpetually worrying obstacle. Thankfully, a new genetically modified strain of cowpeas has been introduced to the country, and annual crop yields have increased by an incredible 20% since their implementation. This is good news not only for Zimbabwe, but for regions around the world that will have to adapt to the drought-stricken climate of the future.
Almonds have been at the center of many climate change stories in recent years, specifically in California, the state which produces the lion's share of the world's supply of the perpetually thirsty nut. Californian almond trees rely on the runoff from the spring melts of the snowy Sierra Nevada mountains, but as the climate warms, less snow accumulates, and far less water makes it to the almond trees below. Scientists believe it's only a matter of time before this concern turns into a crisis.
Chickpeas are already a popular ingredient in many cuisines around Asia and the Middle East, and are easily grown on small-scale farms in hot, arid climates. In the near future, chickpeas will likely become an essential commodity around the world as the climate grows hotter. Chickpeas are a versatile legume, used as a source of protein, vitamins, and oil.
Grapes, while not the toughest crop in the world, may be a luxury we can count on in the future. Grape vines establish very deep root systems, and don't appreciate too much water, preferring dry and mostly arid soil. However, the flooding that is sure to come after the droughts may spell doom for these delicious berries.
Fruit and nut trees will generally not fair well in the climate of tomorrow. However, some are better equipped than others. Fig trees, for example, thrive in dry, sandy soil and plant very deeps roots, making them resilient and resistant towards dry spells.
Goji berries, native to China but enjoyed all over the world, will be a reliable fruit in the future. Acclimated to hot and dry climates, once goji berry bushes are established they require very little water and can sustain themselves through long periods of drought.
Although mustard greens do prefer relatively rich soil high in nutrients, they're a very quickly growing crop, taking only a month or two to mature. Quickly maturing crops will always be helpful in an unpredictable climate.
Okra is a nutrient-rich vegetable found in much of the Southern Hemisphere, and is known for faring quite well in dry, warm climates. Okra requires very little water, detests the cold, and is ready for harvest in only 60 days.
Pole beans, very similar to green bush beans in shape, size, and flavor, produce up to three times as much produce as average green bush beans. Additionally, they are hardy crops that require little water and prefer hot conditions.
Originally endemic to East Asia, the persimmon is a sweet, velvety fruit that thrives under the full and hot sun, and doesn't require a regular supply of water.
Although rhubarb plants require a couple of years before producing long, desirable stalks, they are a reliable source of antioxidants and nutrients, and are highly resistant to dry spells due to their deep and absorbent root systems.
The earthy, leafy Swiss chard plant requires very little water, although it does require it consistently, making it a decent crop for those who need to manage their water use.
Sources: (The Guardian) (Modern Farmer) (Crop Trust)
Mostly grown in Asia and West Africa, pearl millet is an impressively handy crop that can be used as anything from a core grain to a soup thickener. Additionally, its stalks and routes can be used for livestock feed. What makes pearl millet so important for our future? It is one of the most heat-resistant crops in the world, being able to produce a healthy harvest even at temperatures upward of 42°C (107° F).
Cassava, also known as mandioca or yuca depending on where you are in the world, is one of the most resilient and dynamic root vegetables out there. It can be prepared in a myriad of ways, and also makes for a nutritious and enjoyable flour. Cassava can withstand extreme heat without its yield suffering significantly.
Historically, amaranth is one of the most resilient and useful crops in the world. Every part of the eight-foot-tall (2.4-m) plant can be utilized. Its seed pods can be toasted, or used as a cereal, and its leaves can be cooked, as can its chutes. Amaranth has been known for perhaps millennia by the indigenous communities of South America as a trustworthy source of food that grows naturally and abundantly, no matter how hot it gets. As tropical climates expand, amaranth will be a good crop to have around.
Once a sweet potato plant is established, its roots will reach deep into the ground, making it resistant to long periods of drought and heat.
Kernza is different from every other crop on this list. Kernza didn't actually exist until 2019, and is the product of the hybridization between annual and perennial grains. Kernza itself is a perennial version of wheat, which means the entire crop doesn't die after harvest season and will continue to produce grains for years and years to come. This will greatly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture in the future.
One of the oldest cultivated grains in the world, fonio has grown abundantly throughout West Africa for thousands of years. It has a wonderful nutritional value and has traditionally thrived in relatively barren, unfriendly soil conditions.
Taro is an ancient root vegetable that has been utilized in Southeast Asia for millennia. Taro thrives in exceedingly warm climates, making it ideal for a warmer future, but geneticists are already working to produce a new strain of taro that can survive North American winters so that the United States and other more temperate regions can get a head start on taro cultivation before it becomes a crisis of necessity.
Bananas, and their close relatives plantains, have caused much pain to indigenous populations over the centuries due to their popularity in Europe and the American colonies, but they have also been a reliable source of food and capital for even longer. Unfortunately, as climate change plows ahead, these fruits are rapidly losing room to grow. Studies show that plantain production has dropped 40% since 2002 due to globally rising temperatures.
Coffee trees are native to North and Central Africa, but the world's main exporter of coffee is Brazil, where trees grow in the cooler tropical mountains. All of these regions are in danger of becoming unsuitable for coffee growth as temperatures rise. It is likely that regions suitable for coffee will simply move northward, but scientists believe shortages of the world's favorite stimulant will be felt everywhere for years and years to come.
While cocoa plants generally thrive in the perpetually hot and humid regions of the Ivory Coast and Ghana in West Africa, they need those conditions to be stable. Already, these regions are experiencing dramatic inconsistencies in climate, with rainfall and humidity fluctuating drastically, leading many farmers and ecologists to worry about the future of this cash crop.
In recent years, food shortages and unsatisfactory harvest yields have begun to plague more and more regions across the globe as the climate crisis and the consequences of geopolitics descend upon us. Shortages of wheat, sugar, eggs, and more can be felt in most countries, and supermarket produce shelves have been noticeably sparse. Ecologists and scientists agree that it is high time we begin to treat the climate crisis as a reality, and start to prepare for the new future that awaits us.
In the midst of dry, lengthy heat waves, the torrential downpours that usually follow, rising sea levels, and the general warming of the Earth, we will be forced to change what we eat and what we grow. So it's a good idea to get an understanding of what crops in the world will work best for our needs in the future, when our current food staples begin to fail us.
Read on to learn about the drought and heat-resistant produce that will save us in the wake of the climate crisis.
Drought-resistant crops that could save humanity
Adaptable crops for a rapidly changing environment
LIFESTYLE Climate change
In recent years, food shortages and unsatisfactory harvest yields have begun to plague more and more regions across the globe as the climate crisis and the consequences of geopolitics descend upon us. Shortages of wheat, sugar, eggs, and more can be felt in most countries, and supermarket produce shelves have been noticeably sparse. Ecologists and scientists agree that it is high time we begin to treat the climate crisis as a reality, and start to prepare for the new future that awaits us.
In the midst of dry, lengthy heat waves, the torrential downpours that usually follow, rising sea levels, and the general warming of the Earth, we will be forced to change what we eat and what we grow. So it's a good idea to get an understanding of what crops in the world will work best for our needs in the future, when our current food staples begin to fail us.
Read on to learn about the drought and heat-resistant produce that will save us in the wake of the climate crisis.