TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — Temperatures are continually warming across our planet meaning that food that used to be plentiful in some locations is not able to grow there anymore.
Some areas are famous for the specific foods that they grow like the Midwest for corn or peaches in Georgia. Environmental changes could make growing in these areas more difficult.
There has always been difficulties with growing crops. In the early days it was counting on enough rain to fall. Then it was creating the right tools to make the farming process easier.
Now that we are a global society we are able to consume crops from all over the world and if temperatures continue to warm some crops, like cocoa, that are consumed here in the US will be harder to come by.
Ed Beshore with the Tucson chapter of Citizen's Climate Lobby said, "Cocoa is a very sensitive crop. It has to grow in a very specific warm and rainy climate. There has been a severe drought in Western Africa for the last couple of years. That has caused the price of cocoa to go up."
A study by researchers in the UK and peer-reviewed by ASU scientist found that environmental changes including air pollution and water scarcity do threaten global agriculture production, food security and health.
The study said...
"Negative impacts are most likely to occur in poorly functioning markets and among poor rural and urban populations where environmental changes May both directly and indirectly affect the availability, affordability and consumption of vegetables"
This isn't just with long-term climate issues but also short-term seasonal changes that can impact crop growth.
Beshore continued, "Has it affected us here in the United States? Certainly. In 2023 the Georgia peach crop failed almost entirely because it wasn't cold enough."
