Climatic conditions unfortunately point to the situation that in the coming years some foods that we are normally used to will disappear from supermarkets. Which one is it specifically?
Climate change is already having a significant impact on agriculture worldwide. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and increasingly frequent fluctuations and extremes in weather complicate the cultivation of many crops and the production of some foods. Which ones are most at risk and could disappear from stores in the near future?
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with around 2 billion cups drunk every day. Gradual warming and more frequent droughts reduce yields and increase the risk of disease and pests, leading to higher production costs. A fungus called “roya” is dangerous for coffee plants, which stops the plant’s natural photosynthesis, and rust-colored spores form on its leaves.
It has been causing a serious problem in areas of Latin America in recent years. Increasing the temperature by several degrees not only leads to a decrease in yields, but also to a change in the taste of the coffee. Experts predict that in Africa, for example, the number of areas suitable for growing coffee will decrease by up to 65% by 2080.
Chocolate
It looks pretty bad for chocolate lovers as well, because global weather changes are also affecting the cultivation of the cocoa tree. It requires very specific conditions for cultivation such as uniform temperatures, high humidity, abundant rain, soil rich in nitrogen and protection from wind.
However, climate change is causing more drought and increasing temperatures in areas where the plant is commonly grown. As a result, the production of cocoa beans decreases and their quality deteriorates. It is estimated that cocoa growing areas may face a temperature increase of 2.1 degrees Celsius by 2050, which would dramatically reduce the total area under cultivation.
Bananas
Bananas are among the world’s most popular fruits. Banana plants thrive in tropical environments where, given the increase in global temperatures, they could suffer from an abnormal lack of water. As a result, an increased incidence of Panamanian and Black Sigatoka diseases is also expected. These are fungal infections that kill banana plants because they are unable to grow and develop normally in these conditions.
Avocado
Avocado trees need stable temperatures and plenty of water to grow. They do not tolerate extremely low or high temperatures and are extremely sensitive to drought. Climate change is causing more and more frequent fluctuations and longer periods of drought, which negatively affects the growth and yields of avocado trees. Some scientists fear that they could become completely extinct by 2050.
Wine
The grapevine, which is also very sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation, is also at risk. Extreme weather such as frost, drought or torrential rains often damage not only its quality harvest, but also adversely affect the resulting quality of the wine.
To maintain the ideal conditions for growing grapes, winemakers are looking for options at higher altitudes to continue producing their famous varieties such as Chianti or fine Malbec. Experts believe that viable land for growing wine grapes could decrease by as much as 73% by 2050.
Maize
Maize is also among the crops at risk. It is grown in a wide range of latitudes, including subtropical and tropical countries, where under the influence of climate change the temperature will increase so much that it will be the maximum risk for growing maize, due to the quality of the soil and the presence of pests. In North and Central America, West Africa and Central and East Asia, maize yields will potentially decrease by more than a fifth in the coming years.
Resources: www.euronews.com, www.wired.cz, www.joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu
