Risk and reward of the global truffle sector under predicted climate change

0553575 - ÚVGZ 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Čejka, Tomáš - Isaac, E. L. - Oliach, D. - Martinez-Pena, F. - Egli, F. - Thomas, P. - Trnka, Miroslav - Büntgen, Ulf
Risk and reward of the global truffle sector under predicted climate change.
Environmental Research Letters. Roč. 17, č. 2 (2022), č. článku 024001. ISSN 1748-9326. E-ISSN 1748-9326
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000797
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS III - 90123
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : change projections * drought * precipitation * productivity * cultivation * patterns * africa * fungi * adaptation strategies * agricultural drought * climate models * irrigation systems * price estimates * production risk * truffle industry
OECD category: Climatic research
Impact factor: 6.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac47c4

Climate change has been described as the main threat for the cultivation and growth of truffles, but hydroclimate variability and model uncertainty challenge regional projections and adaptation strategies of the emerging sector. Here, we conduct a literature review to define the main Perigord truffle growing regions around the world and use 20 global climate models to assess the impact of future trends and extremes in temperature, precipitation and soil moisture on truffle production rates and price levels in all cultivation regions in the Americas, Europe, South Africa, and Australasia. Climate model simulations project 2.3 million km(2) of suitable land for truffle growth will experience 50% faster aridification than the rests of the global land surface, with significantly more heat waves between 2070 and 2099 CE. Overall, truffle production rates will decrease by similar to 15%, while associated price levels will increase by similar to 36%. At the same time, a predicted increase in summer precipitation and less intense warming over Australasia will likely alleviate water scarcity and support higher yields of more affordable truffles. Our findings are relevant for truffle farmers and businesses to adapt their irrigation systems and management strategies to future climate change.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0330686