We have all experienced our parents and doctors badgering us about consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables everyday. “5-a-day” is a popular mantra to inspire Americans, especially younger children, to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, with the growing climate change crisis, these crucial parts of our diets may be significantly less accessible. Consequences of climate change like droughts and global warming are negatively impacting crops that we regularly consume, and this dilemma will only grow worse over time.
Fortunately, there are some fruits and vegetables that can withstand these climate change related conditions. These crops will likely become increasingly popular and abundant as climate change progresses.
For example, sweet potatoes are incredibly climate resistant, especially when concerning global warming. Scientists determined this through a series of experiments, using sweet potatoes from Asia, South America, and Africa. They concluded that the crop’s biodiversity includes an extremely high tolerance to heat. Since sweet potatoes are the fifth most produced crop worldwide, its resistance to hot weather is going to be increasingly fundamental as temperatures rise.
Another plant that can endure the harmful effects of climate change is taro, a root vegetable that is abundant in Asia. It is found in a variety of food products, ranging from bread to bubble tea. Taro is grown in very hot regions, and is easily able to thrive in these warm temperatures. This ability to withstand heat is significant, especially since global warming is becoming increasingly prevalent on our planet. Though taro is not currently abundant in cooler regions, it may serve as an important food source in these areas as they start to warm up due to climate change. In fact, many scientists are working to modify the vegetable so that it can thrive in the cold American winters, further expanding its influence across the world.
Additionally, figs are another promising food source that can endure droughts. These plants are commonly consumed in the Mediterranean, and are a good source of fiber and antioxidants. Fig trees have intricate, sizable root systems that capture moisture from the soil that surrounds them. Therefore, figs are often labeled as “drought-tolerant”, not needing as much water as their counterparts.
Experts from fields ranging from plant biology to food science are utilizing various approaches to investigate how to make fruits and vegetables more sustainable in overheated and water-limited environments. Through this research, they aim to modify crops to suit our changing world and climate, in hopes that we don’t have to cut them out of our diets completely.
Sources:
Comments