Continuing the theme of climate change and agriculture, the September 5, 2024 meeting of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture entitled “Climate Matters: Nationally and Locally” featured an array of speakers who offered a glimpse of the way climate change is affecting agriculture and food supply chains.
President Jessica McAtamney kicked off the meeting by explaining the interest that PSPA has in looking at climate change impacts and exploring ways to mediate the negative affects. Moderator Dr. Scott Sheeely asked participants What Worries You Most about Climate Change in General and Specifically regarding Agriculture as a way to allow participants to focus the discussion. Changes in farming practices, further exaggeration of food deserts, adjustments in food changes, increasing stress on transportation, and continued stress of workforce were mentioned.
Michael Sklaroff, Executive Director, PA Bipartisan Climate Initiative spoke about how the PA Environmental Rights Amendment has opened the door to considering how everyone is entitled to a clean environment free from the effects of climate change. Ashlei Tracy, Deputy Director, PBCI enumberated the more specific ways that climate change is affecting agriculture.
Special guest Meredith Ellis, G Bar C Ranch, an award-winning 2nd generation rancher in Rosston, TX offered a compelling presentation on climate-related challenges that have happened on her large ranch near the border with Mexico. The family has addressed those with concern and innovation.
Recent PSPA member Dr. Ernest Baskin, Chair, Food Marketing Program at St. Joseph’s University expanded the scope of the conversation by offering several vignettes of the way that climate change is affecting the food supply chain, particularly around transportation. “My big takeaway from my talk is that the costs of addressing climate change may be high in the short term but they will be even higher in the long run. Many of the costs of climate change are not just borne by the agricultural industry but directly impact the consumer through higher prices overall.”
Sheely asked participants what their take-aways from the session with several mentioning the need to “think global, act local” and the need for more local conversations about the topic.