Dive Brief:
- A new, bi-partisan study from a collection of ex-cabinet officials, corporate executives, and politicians warns that climate change will alter numerous industries dramatically -- particularly agriculture.
- The report, dubbed "Risky Business," warns that U.S. commodity crop production could fall by 14% by the middle of this century, and drop 42% in less than 100 years, as average temperatures soar across the middle of North America.
- Gregory Page, the former CEO of agriculture giant Cargill, was on the panel that produced the report. Page says his company, and the U.S. ag industry in general, can prosper during the coming crisis by adopting techniques learned in other environments.
Dive Insight:
Page is a bright guy. The "Risky Business" panel is full of bright guys. And no doubt he's correct that farmers can adjust to climate change. For example, the report says that the Corn Belt will shift northward in upcoming years. That's bad news for some farmers, but is a clear opportunity for others. Farmers, and companies such as Cargill that work with them, will need to change the crops they grow and the tactics they employ in producing food.
As Page notes, global corporations like Cargill have extraordinary levels of experience in multiple climates. Which is something that can be spread across the world in the coming years.
