Wild blueberries have been grown in Nova Scotia for thousands of years. Today, farmers manage many naturally occurring fields and harvest fruit.
But with climate change, the region's wild blueberry industry faces a series of problems.
David Percival of Dalhousie University said blueberry fields typically bloom within a few weeks of spring. But this year, warmer temperatures have caused many fields to bloom simultaneously.
Therefore, pollinators like bees don't have much time to visit all the flowers and fertilize them – a necessary step in producing berries.
Percival: “Because the flowering period is compressed into a short period of time, we don't get enough visits and sufficient movement of pollen to give us a good harvest.”
As the climate warms, growers are also trying to control more weeds in their fields, Percival said.
So he's working to help them adapt — for example, by conducting drone surveys to show which areas of fields should be targeted for weed control.
He said he was motivated by the rich history of some of these wild blueberry fields.
Percival: “You almost feel like there's an inherent responsibility, you know, to keep the plant healthy, keep it sustainable, and really pass it on to the next generation.”
Report source: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
We help millions of people understand climate change and what to do about it. Help us reach more people like you.
Republish our articles for free online or in print under a Creative Commons license.
