In a warming world, Canada\u2019s North may become our breadbasket of the future \u2013 but this new \u201cfarming frontier\u201d also poses environmental threats from increased carbon emissions to degraded water quality, according to a first-ever study involving University of Guelph researchers.<\/p>\n
The research team modelled prospects for growing major food crops in new farmland that may come available as climate change alters growing seasons worldwide.<\/p>\n
The researchers found Earth\u2019s agricultural landmass could increase by almost one-third, including vast new farming prospects in Canada\u2019s North \u2013 but not without major environmental impacts such as soil carbon emissions, loss of biodiversity, and declines in water quality.<\/p>\n
Areas that may become newly suitable for one or more crops \u2014 so-called climate-driven agricultural frontiers \u2013 cover an area equivalent to more than 30 percent of the landmass already being farmed worldwide.<\/p>\n
In Canada, four crops \u2013 wheat, potatoes, corn, and soy \u2013 are cold-tolerant enough to grow in more northerly regions under climate change, according to the study.<\/p>\n
Growing food in new areas may promote economic development, reducing poverty and food insecurity in Canada\u2019s North.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a warming world, Canada\u2019s North may become our breadbasket of the future \u2013 but this new \u201cfarming frontier\u201d also poses environmental threats from increased carbon emissions to degraded water quality, according to a first-ever study involving University of Guelph researchers. The research team modelled prospects for growing major food crops in new farmland that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":null,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":null},"categories":[14,441],"tags":[651,649,357,653,648,647,650,655,652,654],"yoast_head":"\n