Increasingly frequent and extreme weather events, as well as the melting of ice caps, are all effects of global warming. Ben & Jerry's has warned that rising temperatures would soon endanger ice cream flavor.
Human actions also drive climate change. Burning fossils, greenhouse effects, and deforestation are the main drivers of climate change. Ice cream flavors use diverse agricultural products. Weather influences agricultural planting and harvesting. Most ice cream flavors are endangered.
Ice Cream Flavors
It is becoming more challenging to cultivate raw ingredients for ice cream flavors. Most flavors like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie are made from chocolate, vanilla, and nuts. The cultivation challenges caused by a warmer planet might endanger your favorite ice cream flavor because the primary ingredients are scarcely produced.
Chocolate Flavor
Chocolate, which is majorly produced in West Africa, is among the endangered flavors. This is a result of the devastating impact on impoverished farmers caused by deforestation. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists predict that by 2050, 90% of the land in West Africa that is utilized for cocoa production would no longer be suitable for doing so.
The NOAA also states that 70% of the world's coffee beans cannot withstand temperatures over 73 degrees. Climate change is worse near the equator, where coffee grows. Allen Van Deynze, UC Davis professor and plant scientist, advises farmers to grow exotic crops to survive.
However, Van Deynze and Pinto concur that there would be a noticeable difference in flavor and an increase in production costs when using new methods of cultivation are adopted.
Here's Why Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Might Be Endangered
The first reason is weather changes. Climate change is multifaceted. It alters global weather. Ice cream companies obtain ingredients from farmers worldwide. Due to uncertain weather patterns, cocoa, peanut, strawberry, and vanilla cannot be grown for flavored ice creams since they are fragile and sensitive to rising temperatures.
The second reason is deforestation. Deforestation is tree removal without replacement. West African farmers suffer from deforestation and produce most coffee. Cocoa, coffee, almonds, and vanilla grow poorly in hotter climates, according to research. Deforestation has caused global warming and threatened most ice cream varieties.
Thirdly it’s the high costs. The price of components like vanilla beans for vanilla ice cream has increased in recent years, making it hard for ice cream businesses to keep it on the shelves. Wait! Check out these flavors. You will surely love them.
Vanilla Flavors
The first flavor that might be endangered is vanilla. Vanilla originates from orchids of the genus vanilla. It is primarily taken from pods of Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla. Its smooth, rich taste makes it a popular spice worldwide. As the climate changes, most crops are cultivated in harsh weather areas, making the market more uncertain.
Chocolate Flavors
Chocolate chip flavor is also endangered. Chocolate is made from the fruit of the cocoa tree which is native to West Africa, central, and southern America. The cocoa tree is vulnerable to climatic changes because its production relies heavily on the weather. Rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation will diminish cocoa production. Soon chocolate chip cookie dough together with other flavors derived from chocolate will not be available.
Strawberry Flavors
Strawberry is also an endangered flavor of ice cream. Excessive heat outside of the optimal range (20-25oC) causes crop failures in strawberries, whereas increased [CO2] promotes plant development and output at the expense of fruit quality.
Climate change will continue affecting strawberry production through crop failures or poor fruit quality.
Other flavors of ice cream include coffee, caramel, cherries, peanut butter, raspberry, and watermelon among others.