Discussing Climate Change
January 4, 2010 One thing about traveling internationally — not something I do frequently, but often enough to spot a trend or two — is that I’ve learned that people are people. Or, more specifically in this instance, growers are growers. In other words, you might have more in common with a vegetable grower in Europe than you do the accountant who lives down the street.
Because of that sameness, the differences really jump out. Take the issue of global warming, for example. In attending grower conferences in the U.S., I hear a fair amount of grumbling about how global warming is just a bunch of you-know-what. Could be, I guess. I don’t pretend to be a scientist.
But in Europe, the tone of the conversation is completely different. The growers there don’t growl about how global warming is a bunch of hooey. They accept it as fact. I learned that first-hand last year attending a conference in Germany, the International Fruit Tree Association’s annual meeting, for a sister publication, American/Western Fruit Grower.
The tenor of that meeting regarding global warming was startling for this American. It was not if, but when, and the “when” was now. The European apple growers who spoke at the meeting talked about adjusting their variety mix
because of increased temperatures. Their fellow growers just nodded.
Change Is Here
I was reminded of this dichotomy the other day when a magazine from Europe, Potato World, arrived in the mail. This Netherlands publication had a story headlined, “World climate change calls for drastic changes in potato cultivation.”
The story centered on a speech by a TV weatherman, Gerrit Hiemstra, who said the country has experienced the ninth hot summer in a row that was warmer than average. Incidentally, this is likely the first and last time a TV weatherman will be cited as any sort of expert in this column.
At any rate, the story goes on at length about how climate change will mean not only considerations regarding irrigation because of increased evapotranspiration, but changes in pest and disease pressures as well. To me, it’s further proof that it’s accepted fact in much of the world that the climate is changing, and you’d better get used to it.
Consider this recent statement from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack: “I can guarantee you that if America were to punt on climate change … our competitors will use that against us in discussing with possible competitors where products ought to come from,” he said. “That would be the persuasive thing for a lot of countries, in terms of where they purchase (products).”
So all I’m saying is that it doesn’t really matter if you believe that, in fact, the earth is heating up. A lot of your buyers/customers do. And there’s one business concept that holds true around the world, and I don’t care where you go: The customer is always right.