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TED Talks Daily

A menu of foods we might lose forever | Sam Kass

Nov 16, 2024
Sam Kass, a culinary entrepreneur and former White House chef, discusses the threats climate change poses to many beloved foods. He highlights the potential extinction of key ingredients like chocolate and coffee, revealing alarming statistics on declining agricultural yields. Kass emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable food systems to combat these changes, exploring innovative solutions to preserve food diversity for future generations. His dinner party concept sheds light on what we risk losing if we don’t act.
12:49

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Climate change dramatically threatens essential food crops, with significant yield reductions risking global food security and political stability.
  • Innovative agricultural practices and nature-based solutions present hopeful pathways to combat climate change and enhance sustainable food systems.

Deep dives

The Impact of Climate Change on Food Supply

Climate change poses a significant threat to essential food items, with specific crops experiencing drastic reductions in yield. For instance, the Georgia peach crop saw a 95% loss last year, and projections indicate that staple foods like wheat will experience a 7.5% yield decline for every degree of warming. Furthermore, by the time global temperatures rise by two degrees, 60% of wheat production will begin to occur under persistent drought conditions, leading to food insecurity and potential political instability stemming from resource scarcity. This reality outlines the urgency of addressing climate change to ensure food security for future generations.

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