To find out more about the podcast go to Just My Luck.
Below is a short summary and detailed review of this podcast written by FutureFactual:
How We Survive: The Future of Food – Climate Threats and Scientific Solutions
Short summary
BBC's How We Survive examines a future where climate change threatens staple foods and popular luxuries alike, making chocolate and coffee scarce and everyday grains costlier. The episode frames the stakes of global food security and previews the kinds of science that could help farmers adapt, including crop breeding, soil health, and innovative farming techniques. The discussion underscores credible science and the need for cross-disciplinary solutions to keep food on every plate.
Introduction and context
The BBC podcast How We Survive opens with a stark premise about food systems under climate pressure and sets the stage for a broader exploration of how society can adapt. The hosts frame the topic as essential, linking climate risk to what ends up on our plates and highlighting the urgency of finding scalable, credible answers.
"The climate crisis is threatening our most vital agricultural systems." - Hannah Fry
Climate threats to crops and staples
The episode foregrounds the risk to both luxury foods like chocolate and coffee and staple crops such as corn and wheat, illustrating how climate shifts can increase scarcity and prices. It emphasizes that without resilient crops and smarter farming, food security could be seriously compromised on a global scale.
"Imagine a future where chocolate and coffee are rare and expensive, where cheap nutritional staples like corn and wheat are threatened." - Dara O'Brien
Scientific responses and research directions
The discussion surveys the range of scientific efforts aimed at preserving the global food supply. Topics include crop breeding for drought tolerance and heat resistance, soil health improvements, water-use efficiency, and innovative agricultural technologies designed to support farmers in tough growing seasons. The podcast underscores that biology and engineering must work together to mitigate climate impacts on food systems.
"Scientists are developing solutions to keep food on everyone's plates despite climate stress." - Amy Scott
Policy, equity and societal dimensions
Beyond science, the episode touches on governance, distribution, and access, noting that successful adaptation requires policy support, equitable food distribution, and global collaboration to ensure that advances reach those most in need.
"The challenge is not just science, but policy and access." - Dara O'Brien
Key takeaways
Listeners are invited to consider a multi-faceted approach combining credible scientific advances with thoughtful policy and societal action to safeguard food systems in a changing climate.