A beer, one of the most popular drinks among Brazilians, is under threat of significant changes in its flavor, due to climate change affecting the planet.
A study recently published in the scientific journal “Nature Communications” revealed that the production of hops, the essential raw material that gives beer its characteristic bitterness, has been in decline in recent years years.
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The research also warns that rising temperatures and the forecast of below-average rainfall could further worsen this problem.
Hops, fundamental to the beer manufacturing process, depend on specific climatic and soil conditions for their good development.
Any significant change in these factors may compromise the quality of the flowers. hop, affecting the alpha-acid content, a chemical compound present in flower resins that contributes to the bitterness of beers.
Researchers at the Prague University of Life Sciences in the Czech Republic carried out a study focused on Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic itself, which are responsible for 90% of hop production in the Europe.
(Image: Freepik/reproduction)
The results indicate that, if current conditions persist, plant productivity could decrease between 4.1% and 18.4% by 2050.
During this same period, the production of alpha-acids could fall by up to 39.5%, with a loss of up to 30% in its intensity, especially in the southern regions of Germany and Slovakia.
Although Brazil was not included in the European study, challenges in hop production abroad also impact beer manufacturing in the country.
Even though it is the third largest beer producer in the world, Brazil depends heavily on hop imports, mainly from Germany and the United States.
The study warns that, due to cultivation being restricted to small regions with appropriate environmental conditions, heat waves and extreme droughts, intensified by climate changes, can affect both the quality and quantity of production.
To deal with this challenge, researchers suggest the introduction of genetically modified plants, the displacement of crops and the creation of protected areas.
Otherwise, brewers will have to adapt to a new scenario for producing the beloved drink. The unique quality and flavor of beer may be under threat, requiring innovation and adaptation from the brewing industry to ensure the future of the traditional beverage.