A global catastrophe, such as an all-out nuclear war, large asteroid strike, or supervolcano eruption, would endanger agricultural productivity by reducing sunlight and temperature, disrupting rainfall patterns, and contaminating water supplies, thus threatening starvation for survivors of the initial event. To improve the probability of human survival under these conditions, an interdisciplinary team at The Pennsylvania State University with expertise in plant biology, environmental engineering, food science, economics, ethics, and human behavior and relations will work collaboratively to develop and evaluate strategies for food resilience at the household and community levels. This work will provide roadmaps for scalable and adaptable local resources, plans, and activities that will enhance post-catastrophic survival, even after major damage to global agriculture, industry, trade, and communication infrastructure, and has the potential to identify new and beneficial food crops that can be cultivated in adverse conditions.
We aim to fully develop, test, and optimize strategies for emergency food resilience, expand upon the above initial findings in scope and detail, and develop recommendations for prudent planning for post-catastrophic food resilience. To achieve this, we will pursue the four aims below.
Aim 1: Identify, model, and recommend plant-based resources and crops for utilization and growth under post-catastrophic climate conditions
Aim 2: Develop strategies for emergency food production by households and communities
Aim 3: Analyze the nutritional content, digestibility, and storability of post-catastrophic foods and their potential impacts on human health
Aim 4: Analyze and predict market and community responses to disasters