Dive Brief:
- A group of researchers reported that some of the most important crops in the U.S., including wheat, corn and soybeans, are at risk of substantial damage from climate change, according to Ag Web.
- The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Chicago were among the researchers involved in the report, which projects higher temperatures may cut the wheat harvest by 20% by the year 2100. Yields could be down 40% for soybeans and almost 50% for corn.
- A November report from the United Nations’ Environment Program said that unless more is done to curb emissions, world temperatures could increase by as much as 3.4 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels.
Dive Insight:
If climate change continues unhindered, drastic drops in wheat, soybean and corn output would be a major blow to the country's future food supply.
Many manufacturers are instituting sustainable initiatives at their companies in an effort to combat this issue, and scientists continue to look for solutions. The Environmental Protection Agency has a whole section of its website devoted to steps that all people can take to reduce the affects of climate change.
Besides improving the environment, sustainability initiatives can also help brands stand out on store shelves. More and more of today's consumers demand sustainably sourced ingredients, and if producers position their products as eco-friendly, they could see an uptick in consumer engagement.
However, food brands are minor players in the issue of climate change, which has become a political football in the recent past. Policy changes, both domestic and international, are necessary to slow its rate. When President Trump took office last week, all mentions of global warming and climate change were removed from the official White House website. Trump has previously said climate change is a hoax perpetrated by China.