Truffles will be extinct in 50 years, a scientific study claims
In 50 years, truffles will be extinct, a scientific study states – In a few generations, none will be seen in Southern Europe. This is the alarm raised by researchers at Scotland's Stirling University, who based their conclusions on the damage caused by climate change.
Continental production is predicted to decrease by between 78 and 100% between 2071 and 2100. The increasingly present hotter and drier climate would be the main culprit, and according to researchers, this would have a significant economic, ecological, and social impact.
Read also: Italian Truffle Culture Has Become a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The disappearance of truffles could be accelerated, according to scholars, by other factors such as:
- heat,
- forest fires,
- pests,
- and diseases.
Dr. Paul Thomas, from the University's Faculty of Natural Sciences, is leading the research; it is also the first study to consider the threat of climate change to European truffle production. He stated:
We risk losing an industry worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy. However, the socio-economic impact of the predicted decline could be considerably greater, as truffle harvesting and related activities are a key component of local history and cultural activity.
Dr. Thomas, collaborating with Professor Ulf Büntgen at Cambridge University, studied continuous records, over 36 years, of Mediterranean truffle yields in France, Spain, and Italy. Speaking about the results, Thomas added:
This is a wake-up call for the impacts of climate change in the not-too-distant future. These results indicate that conservation initiatives are needed to offer protection to this important and iconic species. Potential action could include expanding truffle plantations into new territories with a more favorable future climate. Management strategies should also include mulching materials and cultivation practices to mitigate soil temperature fluctuations and conserve soil moisture.
Source: Il Giornale