In Kyparissia, western Greece, an area traditionally known for its olives, watermelons, and other crops, farmers are now trialling the cultivation of tropical fruits as a response to climate change. Panos Adamopoulos, a local farmer, has observed the promising growth of mangoes on his land, a part of a wider state experiment conducted by the Greek agriculture institute Demeter. This initiative aims to explore the viability of tropical fruits in addressing the challenges posed by the country's increasing drought conditions.
Adamopoulos, who primarily earns from iceberg lettuce, notes the resilience of tropical fruits like mangoes, avocados, lychees, cherimoya, and macadamia nuts against the Mediterranean's intensifying heat. With plans to expand his cultivation of mango and avocado trees, Adamopoulos represents a shift towards diversifying agricultural practices in Greece. The experiment, supervised by Teresa Tzatzani, seeks to adapt to climate change by identifying crops that can thrive in warmer temperatures and less water.
However, the transition to tropical fruit cultivation is not without its challenges. The initiative currently involves a small number of farmers and a limited cultivation area. It aims not to replace traditional crops but to complement them, potentially extending to other regions in Greece. This approach reflects a broader trend in the Mediterranean, with countries like Italy also exploring tropical fruit production as a response to climate change impacts predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Source: france24.com