“What shall we have for today’s meal?” We find ourselves in an era where selecting our next culinary delight is a true pleasure. Thanks to progress in crop breeding and the distribution sector, we now have convenient access to a wide array of foods from distant corners of the globe. Yet, what if this culinary joy becomes a fleeting luxury? The looming threat of global warming and climate change is causing the number of foods at risk of extinction to surge. Let’s explore ten food items that may disappear from our plates in the future due to the threat of extinction.
Bananas
Bananas, the planet’s most beloved fruit, with an astonishing consumption rate of approximately 100 billion annually, have long been teetering on the brink of extinction. The culprit behind this looming threat is the Panama disease, which deteriorates banana roots, obstructing the uptake of vital water and nutrients. All banana trees share identical genes, so the disease spreads swiftly and ominously. Unless a resilient strain is developed, the unthinkable scenario of banana extinction, or at the very least, a scarcity of affordable bananas, could become a reality.
Chocolate
A delightful, sweet chocolate can alleviate fatigue on those particularly draining and stressful days. Chocolate, a time-honored delight cherished by humans, also finds itself among the foods threatened with extinction. The primary ingredient of chocolate, cocoa, thrives exclusively in tropical forest areas, which are dwindling due to encroaching desertification. Moreover, cocoa trees are vulnerable to various diseases, heightening concerns that the number of discarded cocoa fruits will soon surpass those that make it to market.
Strawberries
Strawberries, celebrated for their delightful blend of sweetness and tanginess, pack twice the vitamin C punch of lemons and a staggering ten times more than apples, endearing them to people of all ages. Nevertheless, a worrisome trend is emerging due to the impact of late monsoons and soaring temperatures in the past year, which resulted in the unfortunate demise of strawberry seedlings and subsequent price hikes due to winter frost. If this dwindling harvest persists, even the simple act of adorning a cake with a single strawberry could transform it into a precious commodity.
Coffee
What is the world’s second most consumed product, following oil, with an astonishing daily consumption exceeding 2.3 billion cups? The answer is coffee. Yet, the alarming reality is that our ability to savor this daily indulgence, more prevalent than meals for many, could be in jeopardy. The countries that make up the coffee belt, known for their ideal climate and soil conditions for coffee cultivation, are now bearing the brunt of climate change’s direct impact. For instance, in Brazil, the globe’s largest coffee producer, production has plummeted by over 22% due to the damaging effects of droughts and cold snaps. Shockingly, scientists have even predicted that the Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties could face extinction as early as 2040.
Potatoes
The production of potato chips, a cherished beer snack and a beloved choice among children, is now under threat. The cause of this jeopardy is the abnormal temperature surge, marked by heatwaves and wildfires, in Washington state, the largest potato producer worldwide. Additionally, Gangwon Province, renowned for its potatoes, is grappling with challenges in potato production stemming from relentless heat waves. Recent research paints a grim picture, suggesting that the potatoes in Gangwon Province may vanish entirely due to the escalating heat waves in just a few decades.
Salmon
Salmon, hailed as a global superfood for its abundant omega-3 content and vitamin richness, is a nutritional powerhouse ideal for health and dietary goals, thanks to its low-calorie count. Nevertheless, salmon face an alarming threat due to the impacts of climate change. The population of sea snails, a vital source of food for salmon, is dwindling as seawater’s carbon dioxide levels surpass the threshold, rendering it more acidic. Consequently, a sharp decline in salmon numbers is anticipated as a direct consequence of these ecological changes.
Corn
Corn, the beloved summer snack celebrated for its popping kernels, is a vital crop nourishing the world’s human population and livestock. Yet, the once-unthinkable notion of corn facing extinction has entered the discourse. A study featured in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) paints a concerning picture, asserting that with every one-degree increase in the average global temperature, global corn production is expected to plummet by 7.4%.
Wine
Wine is gaining popularity among consumers for its rich taste and luxurious form. It is so sensitive to temperature that its flavor can change depending on the weather. One ecologist has raised serious concerns that climate change could make wine production impossible. According to a paper from the National Academy of Sciences, it is predicted that 81% of wine production in the United States will decrease due to climate change.
Avocado
When you conjure images of the tropical region, one of the fruits that undoubtedly springs to mind is the avocado. However, as the demand for avocados continues to surge in China and Europe, the future of their supply appears decidedly grim. A stark decline in production, worsened by the adverse effects of global warming, paints a bleak outlook for avocado cultivation. Moreover, its environmental footprint is detrimental. Producing just one kilogram of avocados requires a staggering 2,000 liters of water. Additionally, transporting merely two avocados by airplane generates a substantial 846.36 grams of carbon emissions.
Apples
Apple farms in South Korea’s warm southern regions are witnessing an unusual phenomenon: ‘white apples’ due to the swift pace of climate change. The persistent warm weather disrupts the normal pigmentation process, preventing apples from achieving their typical coloring. Consequently, the value of these apples takes a hit as they fail to accumulate the desired sugar content. If global warming persists on its current trajectory, the alarming prospect of Korea having no viable apple cultivation areas in about a century becomes a stark reality.
By. Hye In Oh
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