Food off Your Menu

Can you imagine a world without #coffee, #chocolates and #potatoes??

Yes, the day is not far, as plants are unable to adapt to the climate changes!?

40% of world’s plants are in the threat of extinction that includes popular crops like coffee, potato, avocadoes and vanilla.?

The rising temperatures and long dry periods are pushing these plants into extinction.?

Plants Matter?

Plants give us food, energy, air and medicine. They are the building blocks of life and the mankind cannot survive without them. Plants that constitute 90 % of human intake are getting vulnerable to climate crisis.?

There are about 7000 edible plants holding the potential of future food but only 15 plants provide the food intake of the human population. Depending on a handful of crops amidst this climatic turmoil will lead to a hunger crisis with threats of malnutrition.?

Popular coffees Arabica and Robusta are at the risk of extinction with climate change, deforestation and the bee population. The ecology between coffee crops and the bee pollinators is integral and this could affect quality and yield of coffee.?

Potatoes, avocados, vanilla, cotton, chili pepper, banana, apple and vanilla are on the list too.?

Avocados require 72 gallons of water per fruit to grow and the surging demand with increase in prices is driving deforestation to meet export requirements.?

Cacao plantations require stringent conditions to thrive which are causing chocolates to get extinct.?

The staple crops wheat, maize and rice accounting for 51% of world’s calorie intake are also impacted by climate variations.?

Why are plants going extinct??

Climate change experts say that global temperatures will rise between 1.5?C and 4.5?C in the hot months. This will see hotter days and extremities in rain and drought making farming harder.?

The increase in temperatures is affecting the salinity of soil and disturbing the plant ecosystem. Plants are unable to survive in their natural habitats. The presence of pests and diseases get altered and this has an impact on cultivated plants. The current crops need to cope with the unleash of weather conditions coupled with pest attacks.? With rise in temperatures and decreased rainfall, the growing land is affected. The over farming and pesticide usage are affecting the growth of plants. Harvests have been affected with genetically modified crop contamination. #Deforestation, drought and wildfires have a devastating effect on plant growth.?

On land, the biggest destroyer of biodiversity is agriculture leaving an impoverished soil. Overfishing in the seas is stripping the marine life. The rising sea levels are threatening coral reefs and mangroves which shield more than 30 million people.?

#Globalwarming poses a huge threat to our planet and the crops as it is altering the agriculture conditions. The rate of species extinction on land and sea is higher since last few million years and it is accelerating!?

Can we act fast??

The world needs to change to sustainable production and consumption and focus on sustainable agriculture and resilient supply chains. #Smartersupplychains with #digitaltechnologies will make a great impact on the planet and economy.?

Nature protects us, feeds us and nurtures life. The species that are being threatened with extinction could be vital to protect a world that is being devastated by man-made #climatechanges. Biodiversity improves soil fertility and breaks down toxins and pollutants.?

Incentivizing sustainable production, dietary shifts and supply chain management should take us closer to preserving biodiversity and protecting this planet. Carbon will be instrumental in achieving this global transition and a quick technology fix.?

Climate emergency is urgent. Many companies are reducing their carbon footprint in their supply chains that account for more than 80 % emissions. Rising temperatures are going to take off a lot of foods from our plate and we need to act fast!