更多國際時事文章就在通勤學英語VIP訂閱方案：https://open.firstory.me/join/15minstoday
國際時事跟讀VIP Ep.K855: Climate Change Threatens South Korea's Beloved Kimchi
Highlights 主題摘要：
- Climate change is threatening South Korea's kimchi production by affecting napa cabbage growth. Rising temperatures are making it difficult to cultivate cabbage in traditional mountainous regions, impacting both quality and quantity.
- The area of highland cabbage farming in South Korea has decreased by over 50% in the past 20 years. Projections suggest this trend will continue, potentially leading to no highland cabbage cultivation by 2090.
- The South Korean government and scientists are working to address these challenges through climate-controlled storage and developing heat-resistant cabbage varieties. However, concerns remain about maintaining traditional taste and affordable production.
South Korea's iconic dish, kimchi, is facing an unexpected challenge: climate change. The rising temperatures are affecting the quality and quantity of napa cabbage, the main ingredient in this traditional fermented food. Scientists, farmers, and kimchi makers are becoming increasingly concerned about the future of this cultural staple.
南韓的招牌料理泡菜（kimchi）正面臨一項意想不到的挑戰：氣候變遷。日益升高的氣溫正影響著大白菜（napa cabbage）的品質和產量，而大白菜是這種傳統發酵食品的主要原料。科學家、農民和泡菜製造商對這項文化瑰寶的未來越來越擔憂。
Napa cabbage, which thrives in cooler climates, has typically been grown in mountainous regions where summer temperatures rarely exceeded 25°C. However, recent studies show that warmer weather is now putting these crops at risk. Plant experts warn that if current trends continue, South Korea might struggle to grow napa cabbage in the future due to intensifying heat. The ideal temperature range for cabbage growth is between 18°C and 21°C, but climate change is pushing temperatures beyond this narrow band. Plant pathologist Lee Young-gyu expressed hope that these predictions don't come to pass, highlighting the delicate nature of cabbage cultivation.
大白菜喜歡在較涼爽的氣候中生長，通常種植在夏季溫度很少超過 25°C 的山區。然而，近期研究顯示，較溫暖的天氣現在正威脅著這些作物。植物專家警告，如果當前趨勢持續下去，由於熱度加劇，南韓未來可能難以種植大白菜。大白菜生長的理想溫度範圍介於 18°C 至 21°C 之間，但氣候變遷正將溫度推升至這個狹窄範圍之外。植物病理學家 Lee Young-gyu 表示希望這些預測不會成真，突顯出大白菜栽培的細緻性。
The effects of higher temperatures on cabbage are already visible in fields and kitchens across the country. Farmers and kimchi makers report that the vegetable's quality is declining, with the cabbage heart going bad and the roots becoming mushy. This change is not only affecting the taste and texture of kimchi but also its production. Government data reveals that the area of highland cabbage farming has decreased by more than half in the past 20 years, from 8,796 hectares to just 3,995 hectares. Climate change projections suggest this trend will continue, with predictions of dramatic shrinkage in farmable areas over the next few decades. Some models even suggest that by 2090, there might be no cabbage grown in the highlands at all.
較高的溫度對大白菜的影響已在全國各地的田野和廚房中顯而易見。農民和泡菜製造商報告說，蔬菜的品質正在下降，大白菜心變壞，根部變得軟爛。這種變化不僅影響泡菜的味道和口感，也影響其生產。政府數據顯示，過去 20 年間，高地白菜種植面積已減少了一半以上，從 8,796 公頃降至僅 3,995 公頃。氣候變遷預測顯示這一趨勢將持續下去，預計在未來幾十年內可耕地面積將大幅縮減。一些模型甚至預測，到 2090 年，高地可能完全無法種植大白菜。
To address these challenges, the South Korean government is taking steps to protect its kimchi industry. They are using large climate-controlled storage facilities to prevent price increases and shortages. Additionally, scientists are working to develop new cabbage varieties that can withstand warmer temperatures and are more resistant to rainfall fluctuations and plant diseases. However, some farmers worry that these new varieties might be more expensive to grow and may not have the same traditional taste. As the country grapples with these changes, many South Koreans are concerned about the future of their beloved kimchi, wondering how they will adapt if cabbage becomes scarce or too costly to produce. The challenges facing kimchi production highlight the far-reaching effects of climate change, touching not just the environment but also cultural traditions and national identity. For now, kimchi remains a staple on Korean tables, but its future in a warming world remains uncertain.
為應對這些挑戰，南韓政府正採取措施保護其泡菜產業。他們正在使用大型的氣候控制儲存設施來防止價格上漲和短缺。此外，科學家正在努力開發能夠耐受較高溫度，且對降雨波動和植物疾病更具抗性的新品種白菜。然而，一些農民擔心這些新品種可能種植成本更高，且可能無法保留傳統口味。隨著國家努力應對這些變化，許多南韓人對他們深愛的泡菜的未來感到憂慮，思考著如果白菜變得稀少或生產成本過高，他們將如何適應。泡菜生產面臨的挑戰凸顯了氣候變遷的深遠影響，不僅涉及環境，還涉及文化傳統和國家認同。目前，泡菜仍然是韓國餐桌上的主食，但在這個日益溫暖的世界裡，它的未來充滿了不確定性。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字：
- Mountainous (Moun-tain-ous): Napa cabbage, which thrives in cooler climates, has typically been grown in mountainous regions where summer temperatures rarely exceeded 25°C.
- Intensifying (In-ten-si-fy-ing): Plant experts warn that if current trends continue, South Korea might struggle to grow napa cabbage in the future due to intensifying heat.
- Pathologist (Pa-thol-o-gist): Plant pathologist Lee Young-gyu expressed hope that these predictions don't come to pass, highlighting the delicate nature of cabbage cultivation.
- Hectares (Hec-tares): Government data reveals that the area of highland cabbage farming has decreased by more than half in the past 20 years, from 8,796 hectares to just 3,995 hectares.
- Facilities (Fa-cil-i-ties): They are using large climate-controlled storage facilities to prevent price increases and shortages.
Reference article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kimchi-no-more-climate-change-puts-south-koreas-beloved-cabbage-dish-risk-2024-09-03/