Researchers Explore Survival Strategies After Nuclear War in Palmerston North
Residents living near cities would have to produce food to feed city populations in the event of a global catastrophe, like nuclear war or a massive volcanic eruption, a new study has found.
The Adapt Research group, backing the standalone non-profit organisation Islands for the Future of Humanity, simulated scenarios where a city would sustain itself following catastrophic events, assuming disruptions to worldwide connections vital for essentials such as fuel, sustenance, along with transportation and communications systems.
Scientists utilized Palmerston North within the Manawatū-Whanganui region as a case study for a medium-sized, inland city of approximately 91,000 inhabitants to simulate agricultural outputs required to meet the needs of feeding the local populace.
Lead author, Dr Matt Boyd said they found 80 percent of the city's food supply needed could be met by growing food within a one kilometre radius of the city, and 20 percent of the supply could be topped up by urban agriculture.
"In Palmerston North, we determined the quantity of available land for growing food, such as private gardens, golf courses, and public parks. The aim was to identify which crops could yield the highest protein content and nutritional value per unit of space, thus feeding the greatest number of people," he explained.
What we discovered is that only a relatively small portion of nearby urban land would be needed to produce enough food to meet the city’s population needs.
He mentioned that the Covid-19 pandemic sparked the necessity for this research, as "we all recall what happened to supply chains ."
Transportation and food safety for worldwide goods such as wheat were likewise addressed. under threat in the subsequent years , when the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February 2022.
Scientists simulated which crops would yield the highest calories and proteins under conditions where imports became unavailable, aiming to maximize nutritional output.
They found peas and potatoes would suit normal growing conditions, whereas sugar beet, spinach, wheat and carrots would be most efficient during a nuclear winter scenario.
Given the nation's heavy dependence on imported fuel as its “Achilles' heel,” Boyd mentioned that farming equipment could continue operating using biofuels derived from 9 percent of the overall urban harvest.
In the event of a worldwide calamity that interrupts commerce, deliveries of fuel might stop, greatly affecting the industrial processes involved in food production and transport that maintain the stock in our supermarkets.
In order to endure, Kiwis must significantly localize food production within and around our urban areas. This study investigates potential approaches for achieving this.
Boyd suggested that small investments in ensuring seed accessibility, integrating food security with overall national safety measures, and developing local food processing capabilities might make the crucial distinction between surviving and enduring starvation.
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