Geoengineered Food? Climate Fix Could Boost Crop Yields, But With Risks

For a few years now, a handful of scientists have been proposing grandiose technological fixes for the world’s climate to combat the effects of global warming — schemes called geoengineering.

Climate change has the potential to wreak all kinds of havoc on the planet, including the food system. Scientists predict that two variables farmers depend on heavily — temperature and precipitation — are already changing and affecting food production in some arid parts of the world where there isn’t a lot of room for error. And if the problem worsens on a larger scale, it could do a lot of damage to agricultural yields and food security.

At some point, governments may decide “to do something desperate to protect our food and our people,” Ken Caldeira, an environmental scientist at Stanford University, tells The Salt. And that “something desperate” could be geoengineering.

One proposal scientists are batting around is to fill the upper atmosphere with tiny particles that could scatter sunlight before it reaches, and warms, the Earth’s surface. Sulfate droplets inside volcanic ash clouds already do this naturally. So the idea is that a few million tons of sulfates, sprayed into the stratosphere by airplanes, could produce the same effect artificially.  Read More

Dr. Jay’s Note: It seems to me that whenever we have tried to manipulate nature in the past, nature has let us know who the boss is. Having respect for the incredible unseen wisdom that governs all natural processes is an important aspect of the holistic lifestyle. Living with nature & not fighting against her is essential to reaching our potential.

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