Honors Theses (Environmental Studies Program)

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Seeds, Soil, and Shifting Climates: Climate Change's Impact on Food Security in the Willamette Valley
(University of Oregon, 2024) McCowan, Camille; Cutting-Jones, Hannah
Climate change poses a significant threat to global agricultural systems - raising global temperature, disrupting hydrological cycles, and impacting water patterns, soil health, and plant development. This threat is exemplified by the Willamette Valley, a region renowned for its agricultural diversity and fertile lands. This paper explores the relationship between global climate change, regional agricultural production, and local food security in the Willamette Valley. Through an analysis of the primary impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector, disruptions to ecological patterns, and potential secondary vulnerabilities, it seeks to understand the implications for local food production and security. Additionally, using the Willamette Valley as a model of an affected productive region, it examines the region’s current local food system and proposes strategies for local food production systems to mitigate the impacts of climate change.