| Climate Solution Reflects Well on Farmers |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Thursday, 15 January 2009 | |
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Now here's a different approach to mitigating global warming impacts through farming -- and we mean different. We're not talking about carbon sequestration in soil or reducing petroleum-based inputs. Scientists at Bristol University say farmers can help curb rising temperatures by adopting crops that "reflect solar energy back into space." Because some crops are "naturally more reflective than others," reports the BBC, they send more solar energy back into space than those that absorb more light. Scientists have studied this through the help of satellites that monitor "albedo," or reflectivity, across the earth's surface. The IPCC projects that the average global temperature will have risen by 1.8 - 4.0 C degress from 1990 levels by the end of the century. The Bristol University models show that transitioning to more reflective crops in Europe and North America could reduce global temperatures by about 0.1 C. (Researchers concluded that this approach would only make a difference in Europe and North America. In Asia, for example, most of the reflection during growing season is done by clouds. Changing the ground's albedo wouldn't have much impact.) Compared to other grandiose ideas being tossed around -- building sunscreens in space and pumping aerosols into the atmosphere -- reflective crops would take advantage of a global infrustructure already in place. And it probably wouldn't take trillions of dollars worth of investments. Though, it could get pricey. They're already talking about genetically engineering plants with leaf surfaces that differ in reflectivity. There would likely have to be an incentive program, too, like carbon credits that make it financially feasible for farmers to switch to what might be a less desirable crop. Though experts say this approach could "never be quantitatively important on a global scale," it's intriguing, to say the least. Our hope is that emphasis in science, policy, and public debate remains on the source of the problem -- which very much includes farms -- while also nurturing creative solutions. Source: BBC
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  written by Science videos, May 26, 2009
Not sure how this will work in reality. Unless of course the economic reasons for a crop lines up with its reflective index. But using agriculture to fight warming is interesting for sure.
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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