Due to climate change, Alaska may be able to grow an array of new crops
Stories of farmers adapting to climate change are very of-the-moment (and, frankly, one of our specialties). A new piece in Fast Company takes a different approach though, in considering the future of agriculture in Alaska. Written by a climate scientist at the International Arctic Research Center, on the heels of a trove of new research, the piece gives an overview of exactly how Alaskan farmers will need to adapt their practices in the coming years. It’s not all bad news: Researcher Nancy Fresco notes that warmer-weather crops that were previously out of reach (e.g., barley, broccoli, cauliflower) may now be viable in Alaskan soil. It’s something of a silver lining on an otherwise cloudy future, but considering the state now only produces 5 percent of its own food—making it quite vulnerable to price gouging and supply chain disruptions—climate change may actually have some positive effects on Alaskan food security. —Jesse Hirsch
