cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/6595501
The article interviews various individuals involved with raising seed crops for small-to-medium operations. Chaotic weather patterns have had a major impact on their seed production. The article notes that it takes longer to produce seeds for many plants than it takes to produce food from them, and that weather conditions must remain appropriate through their entire life cycle. It briefly discusses adapting plants through hybridization and open-pollination to make them more resilient against growing threats.
Climate news is scary af this year.
Couple years ago it was like “we need to do something about this in the next few decades”
Now it’s like “permanent damage to the planet is happening now”
So much to unpack in that one. It’s unfortunately written by someone who has no clue about the subject by interviewing those with limited knowledge.
First off seed production has never been reliable. That’s straight up bullshit. Yields can fluctuate by as much as 90% and always have. Production areas are constantly shifting and moving around the world. Disease, water, politics, costs, etc all are driving forces for moving production.
Larger seen companies usually plan out a 3-5 year supply of seed and hold 2-3 years inventory of most vegetable seeds. There are a few exceptions like lettuce (only stores for 1 year). So they buffer those species with as many production locations as possible.
On the whole climate change creates a challenge for seed companies. It mostly will require them to hold higher levels of inventory and diversify their production locations further. It’s a pain but solvable. Those that are traded publicly will struggle more as their books look worse.
The local farmers have to adapt by growing other species or modifying their growing practices. No crops should be grown without irrigation today.
FYI: The Queen Ann’s lace and carrot one had me dying of laughter. Only a complete novice would attempt to grow carrots for seed in areas where it is endemic outside of a nethouse.
Also there is no such fucking thing of vertical or horizontal adaptability. Doesn’t exist. There is narrow and broad adaptability which in most species broad adaptability is selected for (larger market for a single variety)
Hybrids are intentionally stacked with disease/environmental resistances via back-cross breeding. Good breeders also maintain a high level of genetic distance between their parental lines to maximize genetic diversity and broad adaptability.
OP’s are less genetically diverse than an good hybrid cross by definition and have less adaptability in species where it is applicable.
My 15 year old son can produce seed all year long. /s His room smells like the inside of a tent.
