When the climate changes, the table empties

 The climate change and its effects in nutrition

The climate change has brought about a lot of difficulties in many aspects of people’s everyday lives. One of the main problems that created from climate change is the lack of quantity of agricultural products but also the change in their quality for the worse. But which are the effects of this problem and how could our tables become “full” again?

The traditional food is the main element of Greek culture. People all over Greece have connected a part of their national identity to their regional food. So in Epirus, traditional food cannot be absent from the tables of the residents. Main ingredient for that tradition is our regional qualitatively products.

Maybe Epirus is not considered as one of the most arable areas of Greece due to its geographical relief, but there are some places in which people cultivate products, well-known for their quality.

Arta, for example, is known for its citrus fruits and olives. The region of Louros has also a variety of citrus fruits and is deemed to be one of the main agricultural zones of Epirus. The graphic village of Xrisovitsa is famous for the cultivation of potato, while there are other examples, such as the plain of Sagiada and the viticultural zone of Zitsa.

Unfortunately, climate change could not have failed to affect those cultivations of Epirus as well, mainly in terms of quality of the produced victuals, but also in terms of their quantity.

Due to the intense rainfalls, which have been multiplied the last few years, large quantity of harvest is lost. Moreover, the high temperatures during the summer are often a fundamental factor in the inevitable destruction of products.

One of the daily victims of climate change are the citizens, who are forced to endure the continuously increased prices of the products. Given that traditional food, which is mainly based on agricultural crops, contributes to the formation of national identity, citizens often feel alienated from the customs and traditions of their country. Nevertheless, the impact of climate change is not limited only to the consumers. The loss of large quantity of crops throughout the year has as a complementary consequence the reduction of the producers income as well as the state’s income. The crops are not able to provide the government’s coffers with money resulting in the state being unable to financially support the primary sector.

Based on the information we received from the Epirote agronomist Panagiotis Patsouras, the climate crisis has brought about dramatic changes in the production of vegetables and citrus fruits, with key features including rising temperatures, frequent heatwaves, and the disruption of seasonal patterns. These phenomena cause dehydration in plants, reduced yields, and a decline in fruit quality, while heavy rainfall leads to flooding and root rot. In Epirus in particular, areas such as the plains of Sagiada and Arta have been significantly affected, with production of varieties like clementines dropping by 30%–40% due to mild winters and late frosts. In addition, the influx of new pests, such as mites, further aggravates the situation. Despite this, the geological particularities of the region—for example, the Pindus mountain range—create microclimates that sometimes protect crops from extreme heat, but at the same time increase the risk of flooding due to the overflow of rivers such as the Kalamas and the Arachthos. To address these challenges, producers are adopting smart farming practices such as drip irrigation and the selection of more resilient crop varieties. Although the near future appears demanding, with increased production costs, continuous access to information, state support, and the use of modern technologies constitute essential tools for new farmers to ensure a sustainable and high-quality agricultural activity under the new climatic conditions.

 
However, the best way to get information about climate change and its effects is through people that are directly affected. So we visited the local market of Ioannina, on the area of Ampelokipoi, at the starting of December and we talked with the producers. Most of them express their dissatisfaction on the burning issue “climate change”, explaining the difficulty of the production of remarkble products and the problems they face everyday with the hail, the rainfalls and the changes of temperature.

One of these problems is that the timing of fruit set and harvesting has now changed, as a producer mentioned in her statement. We were also told that the compensation provided by the state is insufficient and often does not cover the full extent of the damage. Furthermore, it is not possible for the state to prevent such disasters, as the weather is unpredictable and there are limited alternatives for “saving” the production. Despite the statements made by the majority of the producers we met, Spyros Novas, a producer from Arta, stated that nowadays about 90% of cultivation takes place in greenhouses, and therefore is not significantly affected by climate change. Production is temperature-controlled, and extreme weather events do not have a negative impact on the crops. However, he added that if the summer drought continues, there could be issues with greenhouse irrigation. The negative impact of climate change on the economic aspect is clearly felt by producers, who experience reduced profits due to the poor quality their products acquire following the intense weather phenomena observed each year. Finally, there is no possibility of protecting the crops or increasing the selling price.

“Yes, production costs have increased significantly, and we are unable to take more drastic measures,” producer Vasileios Kalogiannis Zourakis told us characteristically.

There is no doubt that the problem of climate change affects the entire planet, influencing agriculture and production. In this context, the need for action is also highlighted through Goal 13: “Climate Action,” which calls on states and citizens to address its impacts immediately. Consequently, we must not only stay informed but also take action by contributing to raising awareness among our fellow citizens.

Let us therefore ask ourselves: Does climate change only affect our financial situation, or does it also put public health at risk? Change begins with us—our choices and our habits. How can we remain indifferent to something in which we have invested our very survival?

The authors: Eleonora Themeli, Marina Zikou, Sofia Sianava.