Foods That Are Going Extinct Thanks to Climate Change

#1 Climate Change can make our diets extinct!

Changes in extreme weather and temperature are noticeable everyday with climate change, and an increase of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere has many other negative effects. Crops, growing seasons, and harvesting are all affected by the changing climate, and some foods are in danger of going extinct, meaning, we may never be able to enjoy foods we can't imagine life without, like a banana or nuts, again, if we don't take responsibility for our carbon footprint.

#2 Chocolate

Chocolate lovers beware, the cacao bean is in danger! Rising temperatures and inconsistent rainfall has negatively impacted several African countries from which most of the world's chocolate is sourced. The crops can't survive the current weather patterns, and unless chocolate prices are raised to reflect the lack of ample supply, it will soon be hard to come by.

#3 Salmon

Breakfast may no longer include coffee or bagels and lox (smoked salmon), as salmon is becoming highly endangered. Salmon are cold water fish that need to live in water that is 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. With the rising overall average temperatures, the water temperatures are increasing as well, making it more difficult for salmon to survive in their natural climates. Habitat loss and pollution are also threats, as more people move in and build over and around rivers, the salmon become more endangered.

#4 Italian Pasta

Spaghetti is facing dinosaur status! According to "The Australian," scientists predict that due to climate change Italy's durum wheat yields will start to decline beginning in the year 2020 and the crop will almost disappear from the country later this century. If climate change continues at the predicted rate, Italians would have to make pasta from imported ingredients, and sourcing ingredients from other countries just causes more pollution and a more significant carbon footprint.

#5 Honey

Forget stirring it into your tea or sweeting your desserts, even Honey Nut Cheerios may become a thing of the past because honey is on the decline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that honey bees are now endangered, mainly due to the use of dangerous and lethal pesticides on crops. Bees that suck the nectar of flowers that have been sprayed with these chemicals have a tragic fate. Local beekeeping is one way to protect bees and continue producing honey.

Turkey

Start envisioning Thanksgiving dinner a bit differently: wild turkeys were endangered a couple of decades ago, but farming and hunting efforts have caused the birds to thrive. However, it's important to take note that these birds that are native to North America were at one time rampant, faced endangered status, and then thrived with human help. Patterns in history are known to repeat themselves, so be advised of possible changes in turkey supply in the future.

#7 Maple Syrup

Your pancakes are in danger! Maple syrup is becoming more difficult to siphon from the trees that make the delicious treat. Maple trees are suffering due to unpredictable weather, acid rain, and insect infestation, not to mention deforestation by humans. That high fructose corn syrupy goo concoction may be all we have left for our fresh, homemade pancakes one day unless we take more steps control climate change and save our maple trees.

#8 Tequila

Tequila, the liquor made from agave is in danger! Agave, which is a form of cactus, needs water to survive, but recent droughts in agave-rich areas, like Mexico, have decreased the crop yield. Tequila can't be made from any other plant-- it wouldn't be tequila! So if you like to throw back your shots with salt and lime, beware of the endangered future of our friend Jose Cuervo.

#9 Bacon

America's favorite food item is endangered! People put bacon on everything, from burgers to sundaes, but an international pork shortage can prevent this from happening. With pork costs rising, many farmers are trying to cut back on herd size, which does not bode well for breakfast plates. It costs more and more to purchase pig feed, and farmers can't afford it, so they'll eventually have to start raising fewer pigs, even further elevating the cost of pork products.

#10 Coffee

It's hard to imagine a morning, or perhaps most of the day, without this hot, caffeinated beverage. But the coffee beans are suffering due to deforestation and climate change. According to "Time" magazine, researchers found that between now and 2020, and 2050 and 2080, there would be at least a 65% decline in the number of existing suitable environments to grow indigenous Arabica — and in the worst case a 99.7% reduction by 2080.