The intersection of a growing world population with climate change and drought is starvation.
Plant scientists have been seeking crops, especially staple crops, that grow with little water on poor soil where the current staples (rice, corn and wheat) won’t produce.
Several of these crops were historically grown by indigenous farmers around the world and are now being brought to wider attention.
A newly-developed perennial wheat, Kernza, was recently developed for its 6-foot-deep roots. Farmers would not have to plow the way they do for annual planting of regular wheat. Plowing destroys soil structure and causes massive erosion. It was plowing for wheat that caused the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in the American farmland.
Most people are slow to change dietary habits. Farmers are slow to change their crops. But the trend of climate change is inexorable. Change…or millions of people will starve.
Both of our sons live in California, LA and SF. We have spent time driving through central California and there are countless orchards of almond trees.
It takes 1.1 gallons of water to grow 1 almond.
California produces 80% of the world’s almonds and then exports 70% of them.
I love almonds, but I’m not sure this makes the most sense for a food crop.
Having perineal cereal crops like wheat would be fantastic. I can see the seed producers balking of course. But it would be a huge leap forward for feeding people while helping the soil and using less water. Wheat with 6 foot deep roots. I love it.
I’m not sure this makes the most sense for a food crop.
Using water as fast as you can to make as much cash as you can makes perfect sense under current laws and regulations. Any water you do not pump out of an aquifer will likely pumped by someone else – you CANNOT save “your” water because it isn’t yours, it belongs to everyone and no one, and as a property owner with water rights whatever you pump and sell is yours. So, the question is not what makes societal sense, but what crops reliably bring the most money per gallon of water pumped.
Insanity, but the problem is worldwide, “human”, and very hard to solve without political intelligence. Hmmm, that same damn problem.
I’m not sure wheat is the best choice in terms of a healthier world. Consumption of foods made from refined flours is one of the drivers of T2D. As is high fructose corn syrup. Growing grains and legumes that lend themselves to being consumed whole would be healthier. Course that would necessitate a significant change in dietary patterns. Seems we need to rethink quite a few practices.
Plant scientists have been seeking crops, especially staple crops, that grow with little water on poor soil where the current staples (rice, corn and wheat) won’t produce.
I am looking at a plant (legume) grown primarily in African countries in arid and possibly even near-desert conditions. Need to contact various federal bureaucracies to see if the seeds can be imported and tested in various US environments.
We have spent time driving through central California and there are countless orchards of almond trees.
And… they literally flood those grooves.
Alfalfa is the largest agricultural user of water in California. Alalfa, grown in Yuma AZ is also a big reason why there’s such low water tables at Lake Mead.
At least with Almonds, the product is a for human consumption. Alalfa? Alalfa is for Cattle, or for seed crop. If you look at it this way, you can see that the cattle industry consumes more resources than almost any one produce.
Ahh, grains… As a pre-diabetic, I struggle to avoid carbs, so the daily cereals, breads, and such have vanished for me, DW has cut way back, just for dietary struggles, so I guess I don’ have the same concerns over grain crops as I had at one time… But the world needs to eat, it’s a struggle for all…
Farmers would not have to plow the way they do for annual planting of regular wheat. Plowing destroys soil structure and causes massive erosion. It was plowing for wheat that caused the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in the American farmland. Wendy
Farmers have gone to no till farming. Google the phrase and you will see the advantages and disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is the increased usage of herbicides to control weeds.
Ahh, grains… As a pre-diabetic, I struggle to avoid carbs, so the daily cereals, breads, and such have vanished for me,
Sorry if you have already heard this but I have found that a lot of people don’t realize that not all carbs are bad. In fact, some carbs can actually reduce blood sugar levels. These are called resistant carbs or resistant starch. Their benefits stem by being indigestible so they reach the large intestine where they ferment and act as a prebiotic for gut bacteria. In addition, like fiber they contribute to a feeling of fullness without being digested. Resistant starch is great for those concerned about diabetes or otherwise watching their weight.
The great thing is that resistant carbs are found in foods people like to eat, like rice, potatoes, and pasta (though I believe most lab studies have been done on white rice). The main thing is to let these foods cool overnight after cooking. Their glycemic index declines with refrigeration coincident with an increase in resistant carbs. The resistant carbs are not affected by reheating.