First, climate change threatened to rock the wine world. Then it went after beer. Next on the hit list, according to Reuters: the black truffle of Europe.
[P]rolonged drought in many of their prime growing regions in Europe and predictions about global warming suggest the future is about as black as the truffles themselves, to the despair of the growers.
‘The bad harvest years, which used to be the exception, are becoming the norm,’ Jean-Charles Savignac, President of the Federation Francaise des Trufficulteurs (FFT), told Reuters.
And although the truffle’s growing zone is creeping northward, the fungi are vulnerable to the frost that’s typical of northern regions—which means that it’s unlikely Norway and England will pick up the slack.
Humanity’s response? More plantations and scientific investigation of drought- and frost-resistant truffles. And, oh, maybe reversing global warming’s effects somehow. That would be good.
Dear lord, we can grow 800 varieties of unbelievable weed in our basements in this country but no one has found a way to farm a truffle? Granted I’m sure a fresh one beats a cultured, but for oil, it really doesn’t matter. Right?
Say it isn’t so! If ever there was a reason to fight the good green fight, this is it.
Hmmm . . . one wonders when the gastronomes of the world will choose indiscriminate use of factory-farmed beef (one contributor to greenhouse gasses) in lieu of a future containing truffles? One hopes they will choose the truffles . . .
Actually, they do have truffle farms here.
http://www.salon.com/mwt/food/eat_drink/2008/02/16/truffle_farming/