COOKING UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE
Like many forms of life on Earth, truffles are also feeling the effects of climate change. They’re a tricky fungus to find at the best of times, typically residing in oak forests in Europe. However, since the 1950s farmers have used around 100,000 acres of land to harvest truffles across Spain, France and Italy in an attempt to meet demand. Around 80 per cent of the global supply comes from farms. Cultivating truffles is a difficult business due to their precise environmental requirements, such as soil ph, moisture and host plants. Growing truffles will undoubtedly get even tougher for farmers thanks to the effects of climate change. Some scientists predict that changes in rainfall patterns and droughts could render zones where black truffles are currently harvested unsuitable by 2071.