Dean Sofer says he is pessimistic about the future of the world.
So he bought land near Saskatoon and built his own home, growing crops and raising livestock to support his family.
But Soffer isn’t gardening typical prairie produce. He is growing bananas, oranges, lemons, limes, passion fruits, guavas and figs in the greenhouse he has built.
“This is real food, fresh food,” Soffer said in an interview at his farm near Saskatchewan’s largest city.
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Concerned about deteriorating food quality and inflation, Sofer said he built his greenhouse about three years ago and harvested his first banana crop in December. The approximately $60,000 greenhouse was designed to optimize heat and light from the sun, he said.
“Once you have the structure properly designed, insulated and well-built, you can grow almost anything here,” he said.
While Soffer has moved the needle on what can grow on the prairies, researchers say tropical fruits are unlikely to grow on open plains in the future due to climate change.
However, he says farmers could instead grow other types of grains and beans, such as corn and soybeans, in areas where this is not currently possible.
In a scientific literature review, researchers at the University of Alberta found that the Prairies have become hotter and drier over the past 120 years. Researchers found that there has been less snowfall and more disruptive weather.
While this may mean more corn and soy in some areas, higher temperatures may cause some pests to thrive and create additional challenges for growers.
Emmanuel Mapfumo, associate professor at Concordia University in Edmonton, said farmers are resilient and will continue to adapt.
Some strategies include zero tillage, rotating crops, growing drought-resistant varieties, and changing seeding rates.
“There is no single solution,” he said.
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