Crops that cope better in a changed climate
Summer 2018 became something of a wake-up call when Sweden experienced a foretaste of the consequences of a warmer and drier climate. So-called cultural crops have been proven to withstand the stress caused by drought better than our most common crops. Cultural crops could therefore function as a good alternative in a changed climate.
A warmer climate with increased droughts will affect Sweden’s domestic food production. The impact of a changed climate on farming and cultivation may also result in major financial losses for farmers and agricultural companies. The figures indicate that crop harvests after summer 2018 were almost halved, compared to normal harvests. The cultivation of crop types that are resilient to a warmer climate therefore represents a way of ensuring our continued self-sufficiency in crop production.
Sun oats, Jannelund's farm.
Cultural crops adapted to our climate
Cultural crops are better able to withstand the stress caused by drought – mainly because they have a greater root biomass. Historically, crops are greatly exposed to weather and wind conditions, which means they are less sensitive to climatic variations. They are also affected by different pests, as well as by the choices made by previous generations of farmers. The harvests from those plants that were most resilient were saved for use as seed for the next sowing season. Cultural crops could therefore represent a good alternative in a changed climate, where the occurrence of drought is more prevalent.
Cultural crops
There is no established definition of what constitutes a cultural crop, but the name has come to be used for older or historical variants of cereal crop. The Second World War was followed by major changes in the agricultural plant varieties that were cultivated, and this can be regarded as the turning point. In addition to traditional, refined crop varieties, we can also include local and rural varieties, as well as those varieties that were historically grown, such as single grain wheat, emmer wheat and spelt wheat.