With the prospect of rising global temperatures due to climate change, scientists at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) have begun to seek solutions so that foods essential to human life can stand a warmer environment. The institution is running research to minimize the effects of global warming on agriculture in Brazil. Coffee is one of the main plants being studied, because of its economic importance to the country.
A study by experts on climatic zoning at Embrapa and the University of Campinas (Unicamp), in the state of São Paulo (Southeast Brazil), has concluded that coffee is one of the crops that are most threatened by the effects of global warming. According to the coordinator of the research, Eduardo Assad, the main cause of the coffee's vulnerability is the loss of blooming caused by drought and intense heat. However, he believes that this can be modified by biotechnology and genetic improvements, making the plants more tolerant to these threats.
Researcher Miriam Eira explains that irrigation of coffee crops can lead to solutions to reduce the plant's climatic vulnerability. According to the scientist, technology has evolved both in the development of new equipment, and new farming practices. Innovative management techniques, such as the development of denser and tree-covered crops, can also mitigate the effects of temperature increases in coffee producing regions.
Another strand of research at Embrapa is the study of plants that naturally adapt well to high temperatures, such as manioc. According to the scientists, crops like these hold the genetic key that will help in the adaptation of other plants in times of global warming. In addition, studying manioc genetics will explain how the plant can live in dry soils and warm climates - such as those in Northeastern Brazil.
Source: Portal Brazil
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