Integrating Amaranth and Agrivoltaics in the Creation and Assessment of Climate Resilient Food Systems
Rowe-Ibekwe, J.;Jamil, U.;Pearce, J.;Thomas, R.;Alrayes, L.
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Food insecurity affects 8.69M Canadians and is projected to increase due to climate change. Amaranth, a resilient crop with high nutrient content, is an ideal candidate for building climate-resilient food systems. This study investigates whether amaranth grown under different solar photovoltaic (PV) modules can be used to develop and assess climate-resilient food systems under simulated present and future climates using sealed biomes. We found increased vertical growth, leaf temperature, and production under simulated 2050 climate, but reduced photosynthesis, transpiration, CO2 uptake, and stomatal conductance by 9.4%, 51.2%, 48%, and 50%, respectively, compared to 2024 plants. Crops grown under 69% transparent crystalline silicon-based PV modules restored these physiological performances by 4.7%, 72.9%, 5.4%, and 100%, respectively, compared to 2025 plants without agrivoltaics. This research suggests integrating amaranth with agrivoltaics as a viable strategy to produce climate-resilient food systems that enhance food security, sustainable energy, and economic stability under changing climates.
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