According to Reuters, Napa cabbage thrives in cool weather and is often cultivated in the high mountain regions of South Korea, where summer temperatures, the optimal growth period for the plant, rarely exceed 25 degrees Celsius.
The Nemesis of Napa Cabbage
Many studies indicate that warming temperatures due to climate change are threatening the yield and quality of Napa cabbage, making it likely that South Korea may no longer be able to grow this vegetable due to high temperatures.
“We hope these predictions do not come true. Napa cabbage only thrives in cool air and requires a stable temperature range. The ideal temperature for growing Napa cabbage is between 18-21 degrees Celsius,” remarked botanist and virologist Lee Young-gyu.
Napa cabbage, the main ingredient in South Korea’s kimchi, is becoming harder to cultivate as temperatures rise due to climate change (Photo: Reuters).
Meanwhile, on the fields and in kitchens, farmers and kimchi makers for both commercial and home use are feeling the effects of changing weather.
Spicy salted kimchi can be made from various vegetables such as radishes, cucumbers, and green onions, but the most common ingredient remains Napa cabbage.
Lee Ha-yeon, recognized as a kimchi master by the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, stated that high temperatures can cause the core of the Napa cabbage to spoil and the stems to become bruised. “If the weather continues to warm, we may have to give up Napa cabbage kimchi in the summer,” she commented.
Additionally, data from South Korea’s statistics agency shows that the area of land used for growing Napa cabbage in the country’s highlands in 2023 has decreased to less than half of what it was 20 years ago, dropping to 3,995 hectares from 8,796 hectares.
According to the Rural Development Administration, climate change scenarios in South Korea also predict a significant reduction in farmland over the next 25 years, down to only 44 hectares. By 2090, South Korea’s highland regions may no longer cultivate Napa cabbage.
Researchers cite rising temperatures, unpredictable heavy rainfall, and pests as the main causes of crop failures, particularly as summers become hotter and longer.
Moreover, some pest outbreaks create additional challenges for farmers, as these diseases often become apparent only close to harvest time.
A Fierce Price War
In addition, South Korea’s kimchi industry is facing a pricing war from imported kimchi products from China, which are significantly cheaper than domestic kimchi.
Farmers harvesting Napa cabbage for kimchi in Gangneung, South Korea (Photo: Reuters).
Statistics from South Korea’s Customs Service, released on September 2, indicate that kimchi imports had increased by 6.9% by the end of July 2024, totaling $98.5 million, with imports from China reaching the highest levels and accounting for nearly all of the imported volume.
To address the rising prices amid a supply shortage, the South Korean government has had to rely primarily on large, temperature-controlled storage facilities. South Korean scientists are also racing against time to develop Napa cabbage varieties that can be cultivated in warmer climates and can survive in areas with erratic rainfall and pest outbreaks.
Nevertheless, farmers like 71-year-old Kim Si-gap, who has worked in Napa cabbage fields in Eastern Gangneung for most of his life, worry that these new varieties may be more expensive than native varieties, and the flavor may not be as good as before.
“When I heard that one day South Korea might not be able to grow Napa cabbage anymore, I felt both shocked and very sad. Kimchi is an essential dish on the Korean dining table. What will we do if that becomes a reality?” lamented Kim Si-gap.
