• [Dailystar Icon]
• News
• Latest News
• Climate Change

Coffee, chocolate and wine could be wiped off the menu by climate change warn experts

Boffins are warning that global warming will kill off coffee, wine and chocolate and they even thought about sending reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool the Earths surface

[Elderly woman holding a credit card and using a laptop]

Your morning coffee could be under threat from the weather(Image: Getty Images)

Global warming will kill off coffee, wine and chocolate, boffs are warning The doom-and-gloom eggheads say making moves now to try and reverse the catastrophic impact on the planet caused by toxic gases may still not be enough to secure the future of grape and cacao crops.

They probed whether releasing reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool the Earths surface a process known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) could save some our favourite foods and vino would work.

But they came to the conclusion it alone is not enough to roll back mans damage on the planet. But Dr Ariel Morrison, part of the team of boffs behind the study, said: Reducing temperature with SAI alone isnt enough.

For instance, cacao species, while more tolerant of hot temperatures than coffee and grapes, are highly susceptible to pests and diseases caused by a combination of high temperatures, rainfall, and humidity.

Natural climate variability also cannot be ignored it leads to a wide range of outcomes under the same SAI scenario that could affect the livelihoods of farmers growing cacao, coffee, and grapes.

The crops are vital to many economies and provide livelihoods for farmers worldwide. But they are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

[It's been axed]

Chocolate is also under threat say boffins(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Rising temperatures and changing patterns of rainfall cause huge variations in crop yields from year to year, meaning farmers cannot rely on the stability of their harvest, and their produce is at risk.

SAI is a hypothetical solar geoengineering method that involves releasing reflective particles into the stratosphere to cool the Earth's surface, mimicking the natural cooling effects of volcanic eruptions.

Researchers examined whether SAI could help stabilise growing conditions for the crops between 2036 and 2045. Using climate simulations across 18 key regions, they assessed crop suitability based on temperature, rainfall, humidity and disease risk.

While SAI did reduce surface temperatures, it failed to consistently preserve the conditions needed for successful cultivation of the crops.

Only six out of 18 regions showed reliable improvement under SAI scenarios compared to a scenario without the method. The study found unpredictable rainfall and humidity played a big role in undermining SAIs effectiveness.

Although SAI could bring down temperatures, researchers say it may not reliably manage floods and humidity, leading to inconsistent crop yields and projected revenue.

Climate scientist Dr Morrison from Colorado State University in the US added: SAI climate intervention may offer temporary relief from rising temperatures in some regions, but it is not a guaranteed fix for the challenges facing luxury crop farming.

Adaptation strategies tailored to local conditions, investment in resilient agricultural practices, and global cooperation are essential to saving these crops and the communities that depend on them.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.