The essentiality of water is unquestioned. It is the one element that connects the one trillion species on planet Earth. More specifically, it connects the 6,000 plant species that we have cultivated for food. To the world, 6,000 is nothing. It is simply a single piece of sand among all the beaches in the world. Yet to humans, these 6,000 plants are more than just plants. They are the crops that we have domesticated since the Agricultural Revolution that have given humanity its greatest civilizations, its life.
Humanity’s greatest achievements have also been the reason for its decline. The combustion of fossil fuels sparked the Industrial Revolution and subsequently has powered our lives into the Digital Age. Like 6,000 to a trillion, 200 years is nothing compared to the age of the Earth, and yet, 200 years of mass combustion is erasing life on Earth at alarming rates of 150 species a day. In terms of agriculture, the Union of Concerned Scientists says that “severe droughts have taken a heavy toll on crops, livestock, and farmers in many parts of the country, most notably California, the Great Plains, and the Midwest, over the past decade—and science tells us that rising temperatures will likely make such droughts even worse, depleting water supplies and, in some cases, spurring destructive wildfires.” These wildfires have already become a regular part of our lives in the Pacific Northwest because of an increase in droughts reaching record-breaking temperatures. Freshman Kaitlyn Hughes says, “I recall the wildfires that ravaged Eastern Washington a couple of years ago.” The increasing amounts of wildfires all over the world have sparked major concerns over the safety of citizens, wildlife, and the agricultural economy. A NASA research study predicts that by 2030, “maize crop yields are projected to decline 24 percent.”
Wildfires are just a small repercussion of climate change. With changing temperatures and weather, farming in many areas of the world have produced some of the worst yields in their history. According to The Guardian, “Olive trees across the Mediterranean have been hit by freak events that mirror climate change predictions – erratic rainfalls, early spring frosts, strong winds and summer droughts.” Such conditions caused “a 57 percent plunge in the [Italy]’s olive harvest – the worst in 25 years.” Even more concerning, this happened in 2019. Almost five years ago, yet global warming continues to worsen and consequently climate change. Now, extreme events, like Italy experienced, are and will become more normalized. Already, farms are seeing decreases in production. As reported by Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, “Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, associate professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University, said, ‘We find that climate change has basically wiped out about seven years of improvements in agricultural productivity over the past 60 years. It is equivalent to pressing the pause button on productivity growth back in 2013 and experiencing no improvements since then. Anthropogenic climate change is already slowing us down.’” In response to the effects of climate change, junior Lukas Farmer says, “Protecting agriculture is crucial not only for food security but also for maintaining rural communities, preserving biodiversity, and addressing environmental challenges.”
Despite climate change disrupting agricultural economies around the world, such an economy can help to combat its effects. According to the World Economic Forum, “The solution lies in rethinking a farmer’s relationship with carbon. While there are already many things a farmer can do to reduce the emissions of their operation, this effort comes at a cost. These extra costs exist in tools, technology and knowledge we already have as an industry, but many are yet to unlock as a comprehensive, usable package. While industry innovation has opened the door for farmers to capitalize on incremental advancements in sustainability, we need to help make it easy and profitable for farmers as part of a package that brings positive climate impact.” Such technology is crucial in modernizing farmers to produce more crops while also reducing their own emissions. For example, gas-guzzling tractors could be replaced by more efficient hybrid models. Tools like chainsaws or mowers that use gas can be replaced by newer models that run on electricity. Senior Nicholas Adams says that “it’s essential to invest in research and development, support small-scale farmers, and encourage sustainable agriculture practices.” Additionally, sophomore Luna Mark says, “Exploring indoor farming is a good way to address food security.”
The solutions are all viable and there is still time to protect the frail agricultural economy that becomes increasingly more susceptible to shattering. Sadly, government inaction continues to occur, as farmers are not getting the support they need and agricultural economies around the world are suffering. Climate change is not the only threat to agriculture. The Russia versus Ukraine war has majorly disrupted wheat production and has led to shortages across the globe. Either way, war or climate change, there is a threat to all agriculture that will severely damage human populations if nothing is done to mediate the threats. More hurricanes, more droughts, more floods, more poverty, more suffering, more deaths. The reality of a new world crippled with food shortages is not as insane as previously thought, and action must be taken now.
