Study: Impact of climate change on pepper cultivation

‍Whathappens where the pepper grows?

A study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), sponsored by Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung , investigated the effects of climate change on global pepper cultivation areas. This study is the first to provide a comprehensive assessment of the suitability of black pepper(Piper nigrumL.) for cultivation and shows what changes can be expected.

Kulmbach,August 27, 2024

Pepper needs water

 Climatic changes will also make themselves felt where pepper is grown in the coming years. A research team from the ZHAW has evaluated current data and modeled various scenarios to understand how changes in temperature and precipitation will affect pepper cultivation.

Although pepper is a relatively robust crop in terms of rising temperatures, it is heavily dependent on changing precipitation levels. "Pepper needs consistent rainfall throughout the year," explains Dr. Roman Grüter. "Especially in the negative scenarios shown, in which strong effects of climate change are assumed, prolonged dry periods result in some considerable shifts in the favorable cultivation regions," explains the lecturer in the Geography of Food research group. According to the study, the potential cultivation areas for black pepper are already limited mainly by low annual precipitation or long dry periods. Areas in southern Brazil, East Africa or northern Vietnam, for example, could therefore play a greater role in pepper cultivation in the coming decades.

Focus on sustainability and agroecological measures

In addition to the climatic conditions, the cultivation system also influences the resilience of the pepper crop. The common practice in many places of growing pepper in monocultures on supports makes the plants more susceptible to heavy rain or storms. "Necessary agroecological measures for sustainable production should be developed in participatory processes involving local farms and other actors in the value chain," the study states. "A holistic view and consideration of social aspects are required," concludes the expert. Regional consultants could be used and companies would have to invest more in sustainable procurement.

Shift in cultivation areas and economic impact

"The study allows us to say where changes are to be expected due to climate change, but we cannot predict how markets and prices will develop," explains Dr. Roman Grüter. Companies will certainly have to develop new cultivation areas in the future, including RAPS GmbH& Co. KG from Kulmbach. The spice factory is aware that there will be changes. "The main supply areas for pepper are currently in Asia and South America. However, we expect to see local shifts over the next 20 years," says Katja Dölger, Head of Purchasing at RAPS. We are already talking to suppliers and keeping our eyes and ears open. She adds: "Even local spice-growing regions are already affected by climate change". For example, the lack of water in Germany is having a major impact on Thuringian marjoram. "The new study sheds light on pepper, one of the most important raw spices for RAPS, but this is just the beginning," says Dölger. "The entire food sector is under scrutiny."

Further information on the study:

https://www.raps-stiftung.de/foerderbereiche/lebensmittelforschung

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