As the earth warms, the ability of some regions to continue to grow crops such as coffee, cashews and avocados is declining, according to a first-of-its-kind climate analysis by scientists at Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
What to know:
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Extensive research suggests that in the next 25 years, climate change will make it difficult for coffee, avocados, and cashews to be grown in the areas of the world where they are currently important crops.
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Researchers combined 14 global climate change projections, three different emissions scenarios as well as soil factors to predict effects on growing regions by 2050.
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Tropical, small-scale farmers who have traditionally grown coffee, avocados, and cashews for decades will find their land becoming less suitable for growing, while other regions will become better suited.
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Coffee is the most vulnerable crop of the three, particularly arabica beans.
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The findings suggest that major producing countries need to begin implementing adaptions for climate change, including breeding for varieties adapted to higher temperatures or drought.
This is a summary of the article “Suitable growing regions for coffee, cashews, and avocados predicted to shift as Earth warms” published by Science Daily on January 26. The full article can be found on sciencedaily.com.
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