World Grain - December 2019 - 6

FROM THE EDITOR

Addressing the climate
change enigma
EDITORIAL STAFF

iews on climate change range anywhere from a) it's a hoax and complete nonsense to b) we're only a
few years away from climate-induced
Armageddon. And for those who believe
climate change is occurring, there also
appear to be two predominant schools of
thought: one group believes it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is part of
a millennia-long pattern of warming and
cooling, while the other believes it is the
result of an increase in man-made greenKRXVHJDVHVÀRRGLQJWKHDWPRVSKHUH
Even the responses to a poll question on our website (To what degree do
you believe climate change will impact
global grain and oilseed production
over the next 20 years?) show a wide
range of opinions, with 38% saying it
will have a severe impact, 30% saying
it will have a moderate impact, 9% saying it will have a slight impact and 23%
saying it will have no impact.
That about one-third of the respondents believe climate change will have
little to no impact on grain production
over the next two decades is a bit surprising, given the mounting evidence
that shows climate change, whether
it's due to greenhouse gas emissions or
some other phenomena, is leading to
more volatile weather.
While there is a consensus among climatologists (although not unanimous)
that the rise in the earth's average annual temperature is man-made, what isn't
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nature of the impact from a warming
earth in the coming years. Hysterical
rhetoric from politicians like U.S. congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
declaring that "the world will end in
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1989 that "entire nations will be wiped
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global warming trend is not reversed by

the year 2000," are not helpful. When
these brash and irrational predictions
fail to come to pass, it only emboldens
those who think climate change should
be completely ignored.
It should not be ignored, particularly
as this phenomenon relates to agriculWXUH DQG PRUH VSHFL¿FDOO\ JUDLQ SURduction as well as grain processing.
A recent study by University of Arkansas researchers warns that up to 60%
of the world's current wheat-growing
areas could experience simultaneous,
prolonged drought by the end of the century unless steps are taken to mitigate
FOLPDWHFKDQJH7KHVWXG\R൵HUHGVROXtions to lessen the impact on wheat, the
world's largest rain-fed crop in terms of
harvested area. Their recommendations
included using drought and heat-adapted varieties; shifting harvest to earlier or
later in the season to reduce yield losses;
and managing soil in a way that builds
up soil water for the next crop.
Meanwhile, grain processing companies should examine their own carbon
footprint and look for ways to reduce it in
a way that is also economically feasible.
Equipment manufacturers, for instance,
DUHFRPLQJRXWZLWKHQHUJ\H൶FLHQWWHFKnology that provides a relatively quick return on investment while reducing energy
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that includes reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in an economically viable manner as
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maximize crop yields
in extreme weather
climates are steps that should be taken
regardless of one's view regarding the
underlying cause of climate change.
Arvin Donley
Editor

Editor
Arvin Donley
Managing Editor
Eric Schroeder
Associate Editor
Susan Reidy
Digital Media Associate Editor Holly Saddler
European Correspondent
Chris Lyddon
China Consultant
Fengcheng Wang
PUBLISHING STAFF
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Charles Sosland
President
L. Joshua Sosland
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Administrative Officer
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Chief Operating Officer
and Executive Editor
Meyer Sosland
___________________________
Morton I. Sosland 1925-2019
WORLD GRAIN (ISSN 0745-8991) Volume 37, issue 12,

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December 2019 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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World Grain - December 2019

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