The gradual increase of climate change continues to effect and transform life on earth, foreshadowing a future of food shortage and a reduction in advanced technology activity that will become existing issues. Current concerns of climate change affecting the natural cycle of seasons, weather temperatures and sea levels rising, are altering lands and waters disturbing the growth of food supply. Such environmental concerns are also affecting economic factors in relation to international trade due to population expansion. Climate change is disrupting and disordering human society, which may lead a future of desertification.
Following from Angela’s post on ‘A Social Future’, the effects of man-made climate change have become evident, in which these effects will dramatically worsen further into the future. Climate change has increased a vast amount of stress onto natural and human systems causing a rise in temperatures and heat waves, which disturbs the productivity of agriculture. These weather changes have threatened Australia’s agricultural production due to the consistent occurrence of droughts creating the issue of water shortages. Inadequate water supply restricts farmers from watering crops, thus reducing the process of food production to supply for the rapid growing population. It has been predicted that “Climate change is expected to reduce production of the major Australian agriculture commodities including wheat, beef, dairy and production by 9-10% by 2030 and 13-19% by 2050 and would have significant implications for international agricultural trade.” (Ward 2013) These statistics are expected, due to the constant damage of farmland caused by weather changes and the rising levels of carbon dioxide creating the issue of vulnerability of food supplies. Environmental changes have restricted farmer’s ability of agricultural activities, where climate change has ultimately become a negative effect, as according to pioneer Bill Cline, “Climate change will cut Australia’s farm productivity by 27%.” (Ward 2013) Through this society’s lifestyle will alter in the future due to arising threats.
Will climate change forever threaten our world causing food shortages and extreme worries amongst society? The threats of climate change are becoming more aware by farmers, where they have gained interest in discovering alternative ways of adapting to potential impacts. To avoid challenges in the future, research process have been undertaken by government organizations to develop innovative strategies enhancing a sustainable approach of food production through new farming systems and technologies. Such strategies involve sustainable cropping, grazing systems and climate-change adapted drought ready strategies. This approach has been conducted by the Future Farm Industries CRC Australian organization through their research and education programs, “Future Farm Industries CRC knows agriculture must be innovative in how it responds to the challenges presented by climate change.” (Future Farm Industries CRC 2014) Other approaches of mitigating emissions of N20 from agricultural soils to minimize concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, involve improved fertilizer nitrogen applications to plant demand, biological nitrogen fixation to enhance soil nitrogen status and application of inhibitors to reduce rates of formation and transformation of soil ammonium. These new strategies will improve future preparations to reduce the issue of climate change effecting agricultural systems, thus there will be greater management on current food production variability with sound agronomy.
As advanced technology continues to develop, a preparation of innovative strategies would be available for farmers to adapt to the effects of climate change, thus mitigating concerns on food shortage in the future. The innovation of indoor farming is a new strategy of agriculture activity through a sustainable approach. “Urban agriculture has the potential to become so pervasive within our cities that by the year 2050 they may be able to provide its citizens with up to 50% of the food they consume.” (Despommier 2013) As climate change has effected weather seasons, indoor commercial farms use LED grow lights designed to their specific crops, since different plant types require different light needs. According to the organization Green Sense Farms, the approach of innovative farming uses eighty-five percent less energy, thus increasing crop yields and reducing operating costs. This increases food security as locally grown, fresh vegetables are provided for consumers. This new strategy of food production enables a regain of ecological functions to the ecosystem that were fragmented, creating a healthy planet for society.
Climate change has interfered with the natural system of the environment, which disturbs agriculture activity. Current extreme weather patterns have destroyed crops and farming land, resulting with consumers becoming more conscious of the production of food. This developed a scenario visualisation of 2050, focusing on a world that involves a sustainable lifestyle through the innovative of new farming technologies that involves LED lighting designed for specific crops. This will eliminate the slow process of agriculture systems where concerns of food shortages will no longer exist. The focus of technology use on farming systems will allow communities to gradually grow closer without technological interaction, thus social technology will transform into sustainable technology. This predicted future world explores positivity in living a healthy lifestyle, where major current issues of climate change are reduced as communities will work together to create a healthy planet.
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OVERCOOKED IDEAS 