Climate Change Might Put The Availability Of This South Korean Star Dish At Risk
South Korea's iconic kimchi is facing challenges due to climate change, with scientists, farmers, and manufacturers noting a decline in the quality and quantity of napa cabbage. This essential ingredient for the dish is struggling with rising temperatures.
Napa cabbage thrives in cooler climates and is typically planted in mountainous areas where summer temperatures used to stay below 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit). However, studies indicate that climate change is now jeopardising these crops.
Impact on Napa Cabbage Farming
Lee Young-gyu, a plant pathologist and virologist, expressed concerns about the future of napa cabbage farming to Reuters. "We hope these predictions don't come to pass," he said. The optimal temperature range for growing napa cabbage is between 18 and 21 Celsius.
Farmers and kimchi makers are already experiencing the effects of climate change in their fields and kitchens. Lee Ha-yeon, designated as a Kimchi Master by the Agriculture Ministry, described how higher temperatures damage the vegetable. "The heart of the cabbage goes bad, and the root becomes mushy," she explained.
Declining Farmland
Government statistics reveal that the area dedicated to highland cabbage farming has significantly decreased over the past two decades. Last year, only 3,995 hectares were farmed compared to 8,796 hectares 20 years ago.
The Rural Development Administration projects that this trend will continue. Climate change scenarios suggest that within 25 years, farmed areas could shrink dramatically to just 44 hectares. By 2090, no cabbage might be grown in highlands at all.
Challenges Beyond Climate
Researchers attribute crop shrinkage to higher temperatures, unpredictable heavy rains, and pests that thrive in warmer conditions. A fungal infection that wilts plants close to harvest has also become a significant issue for farmers.
The kimchi industry faces additional challenges from lower-priced imports from China. Customs data showed that kimchi imports reached $98.5 million by July this year, marking a 6.9% increase from last year.
Efforts to Mitigate Impact
The government has implemented massive climate-controlled storage solutions to prevent price spikes and shortages. Scientists are working on developing crop varieties that can withstand warmer climates and are more resilient to rainfall fluctuations and infections.
The fact that Korea might face difficulties in producing cabbages, a main ingredient in several of the heritage dishes of the country, is posing to be quite an issue, and is shocking several farmers. Unless lasting solutions are brought about to the climate crisis consequences that the world is going through, these side-effects will continue to prevail.
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