The Future of Cooking: 2040

[BCM325 Blog Part 2]

Meta AI Imagine Prompt: A banana farm in 2040

Contemplating what lies ahead often feels instinctual, almost as inherent as satisfying hunger, doesn't it? This semester, exploring the notion of the "future in the past" through various mediums has been particularly engaging. Now, I'm turning my attention toward the culinary horizon, pondering not only the evolution of cooking itself but also the broader transformations within the food industry. Food, deeply rooted in cultural fabric, possesses a unique ability to unite and foster connections among us. But with climate change issues and interruptions on the rise, where does that leave the cooking industry which relies on food globally? While humans persist in their current state, sustenance remains a fundamental necessity, thus ensuring the perpetuation of the food industry. Yet, the question lingers: in the future, will the desire and necessity to engage in cooking endure? For this blog, let’s jump 16 years into the future and imagine the technological landscape in regards to cooking - in 2040 what challenges and advancements will shape the practice of cooking?

Possible:

Meta AI Imagine Prompt: a banana farm in 2040

This blog post will focus on the challenges, but also the opportunities that will occur due to climate change. We often hear about the dire future of food shortages, bleached coral and polluted cities when we talk about the future of the planet. However with a slightly warmer average temperature in 2040, you may not be aware that there are some fruits that will become more abundant. The chances of grapes, citrus fruits, and figs becoming more plentiful due to climate change are very high. Warmer temperatures, longer growing seasons, and more CO2 in the air can boost grape yields and quality in traditional wine regions, and even make higher latitudes good for vineyards. Cyberspace themes could facilitate the rapid exchange of information and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, farmers, and humanitarian organisations. This enables the sharing of best practices, innovative solutions, and real-time data on climate impacts, crop yields, and food distribution, helping to identify areas most affected by food shortages and coordinate targeted interventions. But, challenges like water shortages and pests are still a concern. Areas that were once borderline for growing citrus might become ideal, though extreme weather and diseases like citrus greening could pose problems, figs which love hot, dry climates, are likely to benefit as these conditions become more common. Extra efforts are needed to offset the increasing size and age of the regional population (Tong, Geng, Zhang, Cheng, Qin, Hong, He and Davis, 2021). Regions on the edge of current fig-growing areas might see improved conditions for fig cultivation. Of course, good management strategies and adaptation strategies will be crucial to tackle the challenges and make the most of the opportunities.

Probable:

Meta AI Imagine Prompt: a man eats a banana in a futuristic kitchen

Global average temperatures have risen by roughly 0.13°C per decade since 1950, yet the impact this has had on agriculture is not well understood (Lobell, Schlenker, Costa-Roberts, 2011). Alongside grapes, citrus fruits, and figs, other fruits like bananas, mangoes, and pomegranates could become more plentiful thanks to climate change. Bananas, which love warm, humid climates, might flourish as tropical zones expand, boosting yields in both current and new growing areas. Mangoes, also fans of warm weather, could see better growth and productivity with rising temperatures. Pomegranates, thriving in hot, dry conditions, might find new regions becoming perfect for cultivation. But it's not all smooth sailing. Higher temperatures and shifting rain patterns could lead to water shortages, making irrigation tougher and more expensive. These flourishes of fruits are likely to occur in countries like Brazil, India and Central African countries, which already struggle with disadvantages like wealth distribution, disease and water scarcity, so with these improved temperatures, the likelihood of farms flourishing and benefiting from climate change is still not very probable. Extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts could also throw a wrench in production and supply chains. So, while climate change could make these fruits more abundant, we'll need solid strategies to tackle the new challenges that come with it.

Preferable:

Meta AI Imagine Prompt: a cybernetic farm in the year 2040

The preferable outcomes of increased fruit abundance due to climate change offer a blend of nutritional, economic, and environmental advantages with global implications. With more fruits available, global food security gets a significant boost, providing diverse, nutritious options to combat malnutrition and improve public health worldwide. Economically, it's a win for farmers, especially in regions where fruit cultivation becomes more viable, leading to income generation, job creation, and poverty alleviation. Increased trade and local processing not only stimulate local economies but also contribute to the global economy. Environmentally, fruit-bearing trees contribute to ecosystem stability, soil health, and carbon sequestration, playing a vital role in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. But achieving these benefits requires proactive steps like sustainable agricultural practices, water management improvements, and addressing socio-economic disparities. Cybernetic principles are also relevant in supply chain management, where efficient communication and control systems are essential for transporting fruits from farms to markets. By optimising logistics, minimising waste, and ensuring timely delivery, cybernetic approaches can help maximise the availability of fruits to consumers despite changing climate conditions. By embracing these opportunities, we can turn the challenges of climate change into a fruitful future for all, enriching not just our plates but also our economies and the planet, as long as we work hard to get it right. 

In conclusion, the increased abundance of fruits due to climate change presents a multifaceted opportunity with far-reaching benefits for global nutrition, economies, and the environment. With more fruits available, global food security is strengthened, offering diverse and nutritious options to combat malnutrition and improve public health worldwide. This can inform our understanding of the future of food and cooking, therefore leading us into my next post on the matter, which will focus ten more years ahead and bring us to the year 2050.

Watch Original Video on 2040 Fruit Abundance:

Narration and Editing by Me

Script written via ChatGPT3 then made with CanvaPro

REFERENCES: 

Santos, J.A., Costa, R. and Fraga, H., 2017. Climate change impacts on thermal growing conditions of main fruit species in Portugal. Climatic Change, 140, pp.273-286. [Accessed May 2024]. 

OpenAI, 2024. GPT 4 Research. [Online]

Available at: https://openai.com/index/gpt-4-research

[Accessed May 2024]. 

Tong, D., Geng, G., Zhang, Q., Cheng, J., Qin, X., Hong, C., He, K. and Davis, S.J., 2021. Health co-benefits of climate change mitigation depend on strategic power plant retirements and pollution controls. Nature Climate Change, 11(12), pp.1077-1083. [Accessed May 2024]. 

Lobell, D. B., Schlenker, W., & Costa-Roberts, J. (2011). "Climate Trends and Global Crop Production Since 1980." Nature Climate Change, 1(1), 48-56. doi:10.1038/nclimate1023.[Accessed May 2024]. 

Nyombi, K., 2013. Towards sustainable highland banana production in Uganda: opportunities and challenges. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 13(2). [Accessed May 2024].