Global warming can have some pretty scary side-effects, but one positive note is that the areas of the country that aren’t submerged by the rising waters will be able to host a greater variety of farmland.

A computer model developed by Royal B.C. Museum sceintists suggests West-Coast climate conditions could change so dramatically within the century that warm-weather crops such as oranges and avacados could be grown on southern Vancouver Island and the province could become one of North America’s primary farming regions.  The Global Climate Model uses historical temperature and precipitation observations to project future climate conditions based on the current rate of greenhouse-gas emissions.

The potential is there for much of the province’s marginal pasture lands to become major areas for food production and security.  Of course, this wouldn’t be an overnight success story as there are many factors that could get in the way of such production.  Pests and diseases, water availability, other demands on agricultural lands, soil suitability and preparation could all stand in the way of turning much of the land into an agricultural heaven.

The pine beetle has destroyed quite a bit of B.C.’s forests, and as the temperature rises, there are sure to be other destructive insects to get in on the action.  Of course other factors include the preservation of the Agricultural Land Reserve as well as the surrounding lands.

But with the expected 5 degree celcius rise in mean planetary temperature expected this century, I’m curious to know which crops could be realistically grown in the province and other areas of Canada.  According to these computer models, some areas of British Columbia will be suitable for avocados, sugar cane, lemons, oranges, pecans, rice, olives … the list is quite extensive.  However, if the temperature rise proves to be true, agriculture may be more about sustinence crops such as grains than other goods like grapes and peaches.

I’m also curious to know what human migration patterns will be like in the next half-century.  With some areas of North America reaching 45 celcius in the summer, there are bound to be many people moving farther away from the equator.  Canada has plenty of space to handle an exodus from many equatorial nations, so if we were to become even more of an agricultural powerhouse for the world, I’m sure we could offer plenty of work to those uprooted from their homes.

Not that Global Warming is a good thing … but at the very least we could offer some opportunity to the people forced from the heat.