This Might Be Hard to Swallow, but Your Favorite Snacks Are on the Line #TEDTalks

Why It Matters

These trends threaten food supply, biodiversity and commodity prices, with direct consequences for farmers, global markets and consumers; immediate action on agricultural resilience and policy is needed to avoid long-term shortages and ecological damage.

Summary

The talk warns that climate change is already threatening favorite foods—an extreme 2023 event wiped out 95% of Georgia’s peach crop, warming rivers imperil salmon migration, chocolate-producing regions are drying and prices have risen about 50%, and up to 75 of 124 coffee varieties face extinction risk. Culinary entrepreneur and former White House chef Sam Kass stages “last supper” dinners to illustrate what's at stake and to mobilize public concern. He highlights ongoing work by farmers, scientists and technologists to build resilient food systems through healthier soils, reduced fertilizer and water use, and stronger ecosystems. Kass urges consumer and policy advocacy to scale these practices before losses become irreversible.

Original Description

What does a warming planet mean for the foods you love? Hosting a dinner party that features a menu of foods that could disappear within our lifetimes, culinary entrepreneur Sam Kass invites us to chew on the reality of climate change by exploring the things — like chocolate and coffee — it puts at risk.