A team of scientists determined what
food could save the world
from hunger in case nature is affected by a nuclear war, the eruption of a volcano or even the impact of an asteroid.
The discovery has to do with certain consequences that would occur due to a global catastrophe that would generate gigantic clouds of ash that
would cover the Earth's sky and block the light from the Sun
, leading to the destruction of crops.
Thus, researchers carried out a study that was published by
Earth's Future
and whose conclusion points to the
only agricultural product
that could resist supplying the human species while the rest are in short supply.
After analyzing its properties, experts determined that
seaweed known as sea vegetables,
unlike other products from agriculture, meet certain characteristics.
According to what the
Advancement of Earth and Space Sciences
site discloses , they can carry out photosynthesis even when sunlight is significantly minimal.
In this way, it could become the
mainstay of nutrition for human beings and keep them alive.
Why algae could survive a catastrophe on Earth
The research is based on a simulation based on the
algae
Gracilaria tikvahiae
, a species known as graceful red grass, which grows in
seas around the world, such as Brazil and China.
Algae Gracilaria tikvahiae, the species studied that could survive a nuclear war.
Thus they created what their growth rate would be like on the seabed under conditions produced by a global conflict with thousands of nuclear weapons.
What did they determine?
That if the great powers attacked each other with thousands of nuclear warheads,
150 teragrams (Tg) of soot emissions could be expelled into the atmosphere
, blocking sunlight for decades,
La República reports.
Despite the dark scenario and with a huge amount of black carbon in the Earth's atmosphere, there would still be enough sunlight for the algae.
"The light requirement of some species of algae to saturate photosynthesis could be as low as 50 to 100 micromoles of photons (measurement of light necessary for plants)," said biologist
Michael Roleda,
co-author of the research.
And he highlighted that at noon on a cloudless day it can reach almost 2,000 microphotons.
How long could this food supply humanity?
Seaweed farms could provide the equivalent of
45% of global food demand in a period of 9 to 14 months
, just using the most productive areas for growing seaweed in the world and with sufficient preparation, located in high latitudes. tropical.
Scientists studied how long this algae could feed in the face of a nuclear war catastrophe.
Photo illustration
Of course, the objection immediately arises that a diet based exclusively on algae is not viable for a human, and it is more than true.
In any case, this marine food could
prevent some 1.2 billion deaths from famine
, which represents 15% of the world's population, estimated at 8 billion people.
The numbers are then more than clear and conclusive: it would be approximately like
saving the lives of 1 in 8 people.
The group of experts found that all algae can be grown in tropical oceans even after a nuclear war and that the growth rate of crops increases with the severity of the catastrophe.
Are seaweed safe for human consumption?
In the midst of the apocalyptic scenario, doubt arises about the safety of consuming seaweed.
Although algae would naturally absorb pollutants from the environment, the toxic substances in algae could be reduced to safe levels.
"It was discovered that post-harvest processing and pre-consumer preparation, such as washing and drying, enzymatic reaction and blanching or cooking, among others,
significantly reduce the concentration of iodine and heavy metals in algae
," said biologist Roleda.
Distribution of the algae studied in the world.
Source: University of Canterbury
According to
David Denkenberger, a professor at the University of Canterbury
, seaweed is a source of protein and healthy fats, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.
In any case, despite the great properties mentioned, its high iodine content could only provide up to 15% of the diet that humans need.