Climate change has been on the forefront of minds of politicians, activists, private companies, and so many more in recent years. So many adjustments are being made by industry leaders to account for the effects of climate change and preparation for the future, such as greater reliance on alternative sources of energy and reducing waste in manufacturing. The agricultural sector in particular will face some challenges that need to be dealt with if current climate trends continue on the path they have been on in coming years. This article will highlight how the climate crisis that may sweep through the world will influence agriculture and its industry.
With climate change comes many different weather patterns that are abnormal. One pattern that will have direct impact on farmers and their ability to cyclically and consistently harvest their crops is the rate of rainfall. Certain areas may face giant increases in rainfall which could flood or damage crops, where other areas may face droughts that could hinder growth for these crops. Extremes on both ends have been popular in predictions and analysis of where the climate crisis will take us, and farmers will need to adjust to this through new technologies such as artificial rain or vertical farming (using the same water for several layers of crops), to make up for this potential damage.
In addition to rainfall patterns, rising temperatures will also have a severe effect on how the agricultural industry functions as a whole. For example, certain pests or weeds that may not have once been suitable to grow in Northern areas could damage crops that are not used to these dangers if the temperatures increase. Also, certain plants and animals are biologically designed to live in certain ranges of temperatures, where changes in this would affect which locations are right for the right species.
While those were just two examples of ways climate change can and likely will harm farmers, the list goes on and on. In response to these threats, there needs to be a worldwide effort to protect this industry. This will come from ideally limiting the behaviors that originally cause climate change, but also from innovation and research for the future. Certain motions of the environment cannot necessarily be reversed, but we can reduce further harm by lowering Carbon emissions as well as saving energy in all aspects of daily life. These are somewhat ambitious goals, but policy makers and industry leaders are in position to fight these changes.
Innovation and research in the future will help not to stop the problem, but adapt with the problem. Part of the climate crisis is irreversible in the sense that the damage is done, and it is absolutely essential that the response is to figure out how farmers can adjust. This can be achieved through biological and technological innovations, to physically protect crops and animals as well as the potential for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to find a space that is viewed positively. Physical protection can come from the previously mentioned vertical farming, which is being developed in urban areas for the agricultural process to be done within skyscrapers, in a more artificial sense. In terms of GMOs, many people do not currently approve of this science, but it can have major benefits over protection from pests and weeds that may be the result of some climate changes mentioned in previous paragraphs.
In conclusion, it is inevitable the challenges will be faced by the agriculture industry in the future due to climate change. What is not inevitable, and in control of our policy makers and industry leaders, is the degree of challenges and the capability to overcome them.
Comments