Coffee and chocolate are two items facing extinction
Coffee and chocolate are two items facing extinction
Image: 123RF / karandaev

They say that nothing lasts forever, so we should savour the good things while they last. This could be true of these seven foods which you might not be able to enjoy for much longer because of global warming, crop failure, pollution and human overpopulation.

Here is the list of food facing possible extinction:

1. COFFEE:

The Climate Change Institute reports that if global temperatures continue to rise at the current pace, coffee production will be severely affected by 2080. Arabica beans, which account for 80% of the world’s coffee, will be unusable if the temperatures in the regions where they are grown carry on climbing. 

2. WINE:

Global wine production is expected to fall to its lowest in more than 50 years, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine - and could leave the world short 3 billion bottles. Domestically, we are facing our smallest grape harvest in 12 years, due largely to widespread crop failures brought on by the drought in the Western Cape.

3. FISH:

The WWF’s 2016 Living Planet report says the over-fishing of the oceans will result in the decimation of stocks by 2048. That’s right, there will no longer be “plenty more fish in the sea”. Unsustainable practices, like trawling, are rapidly creating not only a lack of diversity but also an imbalance in aquatic ecosystems, which makes the remaining marine life more susceptible to pollutants and toxins.

4. HONEY:

Bee populations have been declining due to “colony collapse disorder”, a worldwide phenomenon causing the insects to die out because of parasites and pests; pathogens; poor nutrition and exposure to pesticides. With the decline in bees, naturally a decline in honey follows. Studies have shown honey production globally has already fallen by nearly 70%, meaning this sweet treat might not be on your table much longer. 

5. PEANUTS:

A fairly fussy plant, peanuts could be among the crops wiped out by climate change, with their extinction predicted to be 2030, says the Peanut Bureau (yes, it’s a real thing). Peanut plants require stable and consistent weather patterns and current wild fluctuations are creating anything but the ideal growing conditions.

6. MAPLE SYRUP:

Real maple syrup is already a luxury item but its set to become even more so with the shift in global weather patterns affecting production. The Denver Post reported that maple growers are experiencing vastly reduced sap output due to warmer nights.

7. CHOCOLATE:

The Washington Post reported that we are eating way more chocolate than we produce. Last year, the world consumed 70,000 metric tons more chocolate than was produced, with that number set to rise to a 1-million metric tons by 2030. This means stocks could be depleted soon, leading to a shortage of chocolate.

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