Supermarket shoppers warned of future avocado shortages due to climate change
Supermarket shoppers have been hit with a warning about a potential avocado shortage due to climate change. As the temperature continues to rise across the globe, production of the popular fruit looks set to decline.
Avocado growth is expected to slump by 41 per cent in some of the main countries for avocado production, including Spain, South Africa, Chile, and Peru. And in Mexico, the top region for growing the fruit, production is expected to decline by 43 per cent due to water shortages.
Many fruits need a significant amount of water to be able to grow - 320 litres is needed on average to grow one avocado - but the continued unsettled weather could disrupt production flow.
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A recent study suggests that the current 2050 prediction will come true if the global average temperature rises near 5 per cent. Drier climates will mean that farmers will struggle to keep the significant water resources they need for production, reports the Mirror.
SaveMoneyCutCarbon explains: "Our demand for avocado can be a benefit for the economies of the producer countries and the people who work in the sector but the rapid growth of the market also puts greater strain on the local ecologies, not least the increased pressure on water resources and on forest land.
"In the past decade, we have all been waking up to the fact that water is a precious and finite resource that we need to manage very carefully. Being aware of the water consumption footprint of the things we eat is one way to make good choices that help the planet in balance with sound economic management."
Avocado lovers may be shocked to hear that their beloved fruit has a substantial carbon footprint, making it not so green after all. The Sustainable Food Trust reveals: "Carbon Footprint Ltd estimates that two small avocados in a packet has a CO2 footprint of 846.36 grams (almost twice the amount of a kilo of bananas)."
Additionally, the travel avocados undertake to get from Central and South America to the Global North is staggering, with the Sustainable Food Trust revealing that an avocado from Mexico travels "5555 miles to reach the UK".
Energy-sapping storage is another issue: "Given the distances, fruit is picked before it's ripe and shipped in temperature-controlled storage, which is energy intensive. The UK's imports of avocados contain over 25 million cubic metres annually of virtual water – equivalent to 10,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools."
The trust also reveals that avocados have "serious environmental consequences" as surrounding communities are seriously impacted by not having access to drinking water due to its significant use into the fruit's production and the effects of global warming. These rising issues may lead the superfood promoters to question how clean and sustainable the avocado actually is.
However, Zac Bard, Chairman of the World Avocado Organisation - a non-profit that champions avocado producers worldwide - argues that most UK avocados do not come by air but by sea freight. He highlights that in rain-rich regions, avocados require much less water than coffee and chocolate.
Bard stated: "Avocados have, unfortunately, been subject to negative press regarding their environmental impact, including unfounded claims often fuelled by unrepresentative or little evidence.
"To put things into perspective, one kilo of avocados needs an average of around 800 litres of water, but this can be much lower in wetter regions, where avocado trees can depend heavily on rainfall water. This is considerably less than what is needed for other household staples such as beef, coffee, and chocolate, which can be much greater."
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