Agriscience Advancements Against Climate Change

In a realistic future setting, we will be looking at global food shortage, or in the best possible case scenario, very poor quality of foods that will barely be enough to sustain the human population. Visualize the last food you’ve eaten today. Whether it be a locally grown apple or boxed cereal, you will slowly but eventually be tasting a worse taste in a decade or so.

To sustain our needs for the future and survival in regards to consumption, we must first understand the severity of the constant climate crisis and how it has and is making its dangerous moves on agricultural areas.

Land and ocean temperatures have increased since the late 1800s, growing at an average rate of 0.13 degrees fahrenheit in consecutive years. In more recent years, specifically the 1980s, this rate nearly doubled to a shocking rate of 0.32 degrees fahrenheit, concluded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Our Earth’s future regarding its continuous warming is now dependent on how much we humans emit various greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Deforestation and burning fossil fuels contributes to 11 billion metric tons of carbon yearly into the atmosphere.

Now, because of human activity, our agriculture is paying the price. Growth of vegetables, fruit, grains, and every kind of crop is now based on how well they are able to tolerate the newer and harsher climates. Not only will the quality of foods be affected, but so will production and food availability.

Because agriculture and fisheries rely on certain climate conditions, changes in ozone, greenhouse gasses, and climate change, this has a significant impact on agricultural producers. Climate change may cause habitat ranges and agricultural planting dates to alter, and droughts and floods may make farming operations more difficult.

Luckily, scientists and agri-scientists have learned the advancements in agriculture that must occur in order for agriculture to adapt quickly to new climates. One of the biggest advancements in this regard has been in rice, a source of food for billions of people.

Rice is a prominent type of food consumed by over 3.5 billion people around the world, including many poor people relying on its sustainability. Needless to say, rice has made its mark as a major role in people's daily meals. However, it can be a difficult crop to grow. It necessitates a lot of water, and the paddies where it grows produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

To resolve these issues, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently partnered with the Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center to produce drought-resistant rice variants that do not require planting in paddies. Experts say the findings could drastically improve food security at a time when COVID-19 threatens to push more people into famine.

Over 50 rice variants have been produced and evaluated by researchers in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. They looked at how the grains grew at various elevations as well as how they tasted. Scientists identified one strain WDR 73 as particularly promising. In Uganda, researchers discovered that it exemplifies yields by roughly 30% when compared to locally cultivated types.

While adaptation of new food strains has been a great global benefit, there have been opposite perspectives on the fight between agriculture and climate change. While climate change has proven to be detrimental to agriculture, there have been some cases where agriculture itself has promoted global warming.

Aqua-farming techniques affect the ocean’s environment by being susceptible to spreading pollution and disease. Additionally, their construction often destroys essential ecosystems like marshes and mangroves which shield coastal areas from storms, provide habitats, and absorb lots of greenhouse gasses.

The majority of the seafood we eat is grown through fish farmed in self-contained systems, therefore being important in our daily consumption of seafood. But, they are not healthy for the environment as the self-contained systems produce a lot of pollution and cause many environmental issues. Aqua Farmers are trying to fight the many environmental issues of aqua-farming by working with natural ocean systems rather than forcing larger, carnivorous fish into small pens. Through this, water quality will improve.

Fortunately, there have been solutions in which these issues can change course for the greater good. In order for regenerative ocean farming to work, consumers must shift to restorative ocean farming to provide jobs for coastal communities, support healthy plant and shellfish-based diets, and create a more sustainable future.

Sources Cited

Dahlman, R. L. and L. A. (n.d.). Climate change: Global temperature. Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature#:~:text=According%20to%20NOAA%27s%202020%20Annual,more%20than%20twice%20that%20rate.

Maulu, S., Hasimuna, O. J., Haambiya, L. H., Monde, C., Musuka, C. G., Makorwa, T. H., Munganga, B. P., Phiri, K. J., & Nsekanabo, J. D. M. (1AD, January 1). Climate change effects on aquaculture production: Sustainability Implications, mitigation, and adaptations. Frontiers. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.609097/full

New strains of rice could address climate change. UNEP. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/new-strains-rice-could-address-climate-change

Overview. USDA ERS - Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/natural-resources-environment/climate-change/#:~:text=Agriculture%20and%20forestry%20together%20are,largest%20contributor%20to%20climate%20change.