We take it for granted that the food we have today is the food we’ll have in the future. We even take it for granted that our beautiful produce will always be affordable and in abundance.
The reality is that climate change is impacting agriculture and our food supply. Our agricultural industry is now changing rapidly. Now and certainly in the years to come, we’ll be combating these challenges:
Growing Season Changes
Growing seasons have been the same for many years. Agriculture workers have always known when to haul their used vineyard machinery, tractors, and other equipment out of storage and get to work plowing their fields, sowing, and harvesting. Now, we’re noticing a few concerning trends courtesy of changing weather patterns and rising temperatures.
Some agriculture workers are noticing shorter growing seasons, while others are experiencing longer ones. Farmers are also experiencing strange timing regarding planting, flowering, and harvesting. While it might not seem like a big deal, any growing season change can sometimes contribute to crop failures or smaller yields.
Temperature and Precipitation Changes
We’ve always known what to expect regarding temperatures and precipitation patterns at certain times of the year. However, climate change has thrown a spanner in the works. We’re now learning to expect the unknown, and it has caused chaos for the average agriculture worker.
An upset in temperatures and rainfall can result in more frequent and harsher heatwaves, more floods, storms, and drought conditions. All these conditions can result in poor soil quality, damaged crops, and overall disrupted agricultural tasks.
Coastal Erosion and Sea Levels Rising
Coastal areas provide amazing soil and climatic conditions for growing. That’s why most agricultural operations take place in coastal areas. It has worked well for many years, but that could change in the future.
The erosion of coastal land means we may have less land to use in the future. The rising sea levels may also mean that saltwater enters our freshwater systems, degrading the soil quality and making much of the farming land unsuitable.
The less land we have, the less food we produce. The head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, already believed we didn’t have enough food for the world’s population in 2023. The outcome may be far more severe in the future.
Livestock Production Challenges
Most livestock farmers would already agree that farming animals is a tough job. You must ensure they have enough to eat and are in good health. Meanwhile, you’re forever grappling with price fluctuations that see all your hard work barely profitable.
Livestock production challenges may continue in the future due to climate change. Heat stress and reduced food may mean that livestock are more susceptible to disease. Heatwaves from temperature changes may also result in more livestock deaths and less milk and meat production.
Water Scarcity
We all know that climate change is a key player in water scarcity. Warmer temperatures promote evaporation, and when we have less surface water, the soil and vegetation dry out. Water scarcity is certainly a problem the agriculture industry will face in the years to come—and likely already does. The less water they have, the fewer crops they can produce to meet consumer demand.
Climate change is not something we can turn a blind eye to. It is and will continue to affect the agriculture industry and food supply. It may only be a matter of time before we begin to notice significant shortages in the food and products we love.