We have always talked about animals becoming extinct like the Tigers and the one horned Rhinos and birds like the Kakapo or the California Candor. Remember the phrase ‘As dead as a Dodo?’
But do we even realise that there are a variety of foods that are on the verge of becoming extinct?
Bananas. Yes, you read that right. According to a study, conducted by the University of Exeter, and published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, climate change has increased Black Sigatoka, a fungal disease, which affects bananas and makes them inedible.
Then there is Cacao which cannot survive increasing temperatures due to Climate Change. So that means no chocolates as well. And your favourite cuppa? Rising temperatures and volatile weather could prevent bees with lower heat tolerances from pollinating coffee plants.
Shockingly, it is not just Climate Change but our dietary habits that could make foods extinct! Yes, eating the same foods. The whole world is actually eating only a few types of grain – mainly rice, wheat, maize. Human diets a few thousand years ago were far more diverse than the ones most of us have on our plates today.
Crop biodiversity which enriches soil and the nutrient eco system was the pillar of agriculture before the Green Revolution. It is time to bring it back. Organic farming treats crop biodiversity and crop rotation as fundamentals to soil health.
This World Organic Day, let’s put the Organic back in farming. So that future generations can enjoy the foods we love today!
