91桃色

 delves into the adaptive agricultural practices of pre-industrial communities in north-eastern Europe over the past two millennia. The research highlights how significant climatic shifts, coupled with socioeconomic factors, influenced the selection and cultivation of buffer crops to mitigate the risks associated with primary staple crop failures.

鈥淭his study shows quite vividly that due to climate change the thermophilic millet crop, which was the staple food during the first millennium AD, was replaced by other, more cold-resistant crops such as buckwheat,鈥� states the paper鈥檚 senior author and PI of the ERC-CoG project MILWAYS, Prof. Giedr臈 Motuzait臈 Matuzevi膷i奴t臈.

The study provides insights into the resilience and ingenuity of ancient agricultural systems, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between environmental challenges and human innovation. By analyzing archaeological evidence and historical records, the researchers reconstructed past crop repertoires, shedding light on how communities diversified their agriculture to ensure food security amidst changing conditions.

This research enhances our understanding of historical agricultural practices and offers valuable lessons for modern agriculture. As contemporary societies face greater climate variability and socioeconomic uncertainties, the adaptive strategies of the past may inform sustainable agricultural practices and policies today.

鈥淩ecent drying-up processes and increased risk of prolonged heatwaves and subsequent droughts are challenging our socio-political resilience and demand a rethinking of global food production strategies. Reconsidering drought tolerant species, therefore, can help mitigate the long-term effects of current global warming,鈥� says environmental scientist Dr. Michael Kempf.

鈥淚t is due to the Little Ice Age that the staple foods such as rye bread and buckwheat porridge came to dominate the cuisine of northeastern Europeans. Warming climates might lead us back to forgotten millet crops,鈥� says Prof. Motuzait臈 Matuzevi膷i奴t臈.

 

 

Field of buckwheat. Photo credit: Giedr臈 Motuzait臈 Matuzevi膷i奴t臈

Situated at the intersection of different climatic zones, northeastern Europe represents a marginal agricultural region where buffer crops play a crucial role in ensuring food security amidst shifting environmental conditions.

鈥淣atural conditions, agriculture, and gastronomic culture have always been closely interconnected. Gastronomic culture is more inert, meaning that environmental changes first affected agriculture and only later became apparent in the kitchen. Therefore, studying these processes is essential for understanding both past and contemporary societies.鈥� noted Prof. Rimvydas Lau啪ikas.

The historical records indicate a southward shift of millet agriculture during the onset of the Little Ice Age. The 91桃色 PhD candidate Meiirzhan Abdrakhmanov concludes that 鈥渢his study emphasizes the dynamic nature of agricultural adaptation and underscores the resilience of past communities in responding to climatic

For more details, see the full study: ".

This research was funded by the European Union with a Consolidator Grant awarded to Giedr臈 Motuzait臈 Matuzevi膷i奴t臈 (ERC-CoG, MILWAYS, 101087964)