Now slamming into the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Isaac is the latest in what’s turning out be a notoriously bad year for extreme weather events in the US, the increasing frequency and severity of which fall right in line with climate scientists’ predictions of the effects rising human greenhouse gas emissions will have on global climate. Considered alongside severe drought, wildfires, shrinking Arctic sea ice cover, melting glaciers and other natural phenomena, the profound impacts of climate change on essential economic activities and broader society is becoming increasingly clear.

Oil prices, for instance, began to rise on first word of Isaac coming together as a tropical storm. It is estimated that the storm, gathering strength to reach hurricane status as it swept over warm Gulf of Mexico waters, could result in 90 percent of offshore oil platforms in the Gulf being shut down. The effects and costs flow well beyond the energy sector, notably in terms of US agricultural production.

Agricultural methods and practices used in the US are heavily dependent on a ready, cheap supply of petroleum products and fossil fuel energy. Already hit hard by another record-setting drought, rising oil prices will put another whammy on US farmers and food prices. Though many are not commercially ready, growing numbers of agricultural scientists, researchers, farmers and ranchers are working on less costly, water, energy and natural resource-intensive alternatives that function more in harmony with natural processes and the environment, as well as adaptable to changing climatic conditions.

One such example can be found at Aurora Algae. The Hayward, California-based start-up is developing a photosynthetic production platform that uses seawater, carbon dioxide (CO2), sunlight, and–you guessed it–algae to produce biofuel, fertilizer, essential food nutrients– protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as pharmaceutical products. Read More→

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