· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Wired or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Breadfruit, a climate-resilient crop, is gaining attention as a solution to global food security amid climate change • It thrives in hot, unpredictable conditions and could replace vulnerable staples like corn and wheat in tropical regions
• Breadfruit is also being used to develop commercial products and restore degraded lands in places like Haiti and the Caribbean
🔭 The context: Breadfruit is a high-yielding, nutrient-rich tree that can survive extreme weather, stabilize soils, and sequester carbon
• Originating in the Pacific, it has long been overlooked but is now recognized for its ability to feed communities in areas hit hard by climate change
• Its expanding range is driven by rising global temperatures
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As a sustainable, low-input crop, breadfruit can reduce reliance on environmentally harmful staples, enhance food security in the tropics, and help fight climate change by storing carbon and restoring ecosystems ⏭️ What's next: Countries like the Dominican Republic and Haiti are investing in breadfruit planting programs to boost local food production
• Researchers are working to identify the best varieties to withstand future climate conditions, aiming for widespread adoption across the global south
💬 One quote: “Breadfruit is already adapted to higher temperatures, and many of the same products [as corn] could be made from it,” says Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, professor at the University of Hawaii
📈 One stat: A mature breadfruit tree can produce over 400 pounds of fruit annually, enough to feed a family for years
Click for more news covering the latest on climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture
