Katrina Cornish dedicates her time to cultivating dandelions and desert shrubs. She collects the elastic sap they yield and employs specialized equipment to coat them in materials such as condoms, medical gloves, and parts for trachea tubes. She believes that these products have the potential to significantly transform the agricultural industry in the United States.

Professor Cornish, from Ohio State University, is researching alternative crops such as guayule and rubber dandelions as substitutes for rubber. In Arizona, guayule is successfully growing in dry conditions at a research farm owned by Bridgestone. In Nebraska and other parts of the central U.S., sorghum is also being cultivated as a potential alternative, with its green grass and red grains.

These areas have been traditionally dominated by crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton. However, there is growing interest in alternative crops that are seen as potential solutions to combat climate change. Many companies, philanthropic organizations, and national and international entities are advocating for these crops, which are more water-efficient and play a crucial role in fighting hunger in certain areas of the world. While some researchers and farmers are hopeful about the potential of these crops, they acknowledge that significant changes would need to occur in markets and processing before we see widespread cultivation of these unconventional plants or find many products made with them in stores, particularly in the United States.

The majority of rubber processing occurs in other countries, and the U.S. is not equipped to process rubber within its own borders. However, Cornish believes that the risks of illness, climate change, and tensions in international trade make it wise to invest in developing and processing domestic alternatives.

According to Nate Blum, the CEO of Sorghum United, a global NGO dedicated to promoting sorghum, if sorghum is to be grown for human consumption as well as for livestock and pet food, processing must be expanded. Despite the U.S. being the top producer of sorghum, it is still only a small portion of the total acres of crops grown, compared to more popular commodities like corn and soybeans. While corn and soybeans receive significant incentives in the U.S., Blum believes that there is potential for increased investment in the sorghum and millets industry due to consumer demand.

According to James Gerber, a senior scientist at the nonprofit organization Project Drawdown, farmers tend to prioritize planting crops that receive subsidies. In his recent publication in Nature Food, Gerber discusses the potential for certain crops to experience yield growth or stagnation in the future. As an example, he compares sorghum production in India and the U.S., noting that India has put significant effort into improving yields while the U.S. has not.

However, Blum believes that there are tangible advantages to be gained from exploring sorghum, and possibly more pressing advantages in regions outside of the United States. Following the United Nations’ declaration last year to prioritize millets, including sorghum, Blum is convinced that there is still much work to be done. He stated, “The conclusion of the international year does not signify the end. It is, in fact, just the start.”

Due to the impact of climate change on global agriculture, there is a pressing demand for crops that can withstand severe weather conditions such as prolonged drought. This is especially crucial in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where small-scale farmers depend on limited land for their livelihoods. While there are breeding programs for these crops in the U.S., they are not as commonly incorporated into the American diet or way of life.

Specialty markets are essential for the success of these crops, according to Cornish. She believes that, similar to how Tesla successfully marketed electric cars as a high-end product before making them more accessible, premium goods such as condoms, trachea tube parts, and radiation-rated surgical gloves should be made with dandelion and guayule to motivate producers to increase cultivation of these crops.

According to Cornish, you are unable to accomplish this task without following that specific path due to a lack of economies of scale. Additionally, you do not possess sufficient resources to enter markets that demand a significant amount.

According to Bill Niaura, executive director of sustainable innovation at Bridgestone, guayule will likely remain a specialty crop in terms of its cultivation area. He noted that Bridgestone has primarily focused on research and development for guayule over the past decade, but it has recently begun exploring its potential as a business venture. Niaura explained that the goal is to establish a new industry in the Americas, which is currently non-existent.

Meanwhile, American farmers depend on a large-scale agricultural economy where they grow crops that provide them with flexibility in terms of selling options, according to Curt Covington, a senior director at AgAmerica Lending, a private investment management and lending firm specializing in agricultural land. He noted that the bankers who fund these farmers are often hesitant to take on the risk of transitioning to a crop that does not have established markets. This could potentially become an issue for the country as climate change intensifies the risks faced by crops such as cotton and alfalfa, which require a lot of water and are primarily grown in the Southwest.

Arizona farmers have been forced to leave their land uncultivated due to reductions in Colorado River water, causing them to face challenges and potentially abandon their family businesses. While guayule is a more water-efficient crop compared to cotton and alfalfa, it may not be financially viable for most farmers.

“Essentially, the result is a possibility of having a large amount of unused land, and the need to import the same crop from other nations,” explained Covington. “This poses a security threat for our country.”

Cornish believes that this issue can be avoided by redefining the United States as not only a country known for its abundance of grain, but also as a major producer of natural rubber.

She stated that her work is not complete until this becomes a permanent aspect of the environment.

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This report was contributed to by Joshua A. Bickel, a journalist from Wooster, Ohio, and Ross D. Franklin, a journalist from Eloy, Arizona, of the Associated Press.

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Check out Melina Walling’s profile on X: @MelinaWalling.

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AP’s coverage of climate and environmental issues is backed by various private foundations. AP is the sole entity responsible for the content produced. To learn more about AP’s guidelines for collaborating with philanthropies, view a list of supporters, and see the coverage areas that have received funding, please visit AP.org.

Source: wral.com