Rising right off the southern coast of Turkey, the Taurus Mountains are as beautiful as they are rugged. Even Alexander the Great considered these mountains formidable: he, as we know, failed to conquer Termessos, a city located at an altitude of more than 3000 feet above sea level. Researchers have identified much of the region as a "marginal" landscape for human habitation and productivity. Therefore, it would be surprising to know that this mountainous area is one of the agricultural centers of the country.

Small, multi-generational farms, typically less than 12 acres, make the most of space in flat, high-altitude valleys with long, narrow stretches that, viewed from space, resemble modern art more than food production. Here, in addition to subsistence farming, the locals grow a variety of crops for export, from organic roses destined for the world's great perfume houses, to hazelnuts and apricots, which you can find on the shelves of your local supermarket. The region also produces tons of apples, lentils, chickpeas and wheat annually.

Farmers generally rely on rain-fed irrigation methods, which the researchers warn could be a problem in the future. As climate change changes rainfall patterns, many models suggest that the Taurus mountains as a whole may become drier and more prone to drought. Many previously cultivated areas have already fallen because some crops, especially wheat, are becoming too expensive.

To protect local economies from climate change, researchers are exploring a range of potential solutions, such as converting farms into almond orchards, as highlighted in an article published in Environmental Earth Sciences in May 2021. However, the cost of converting narrow tracts of land into gardens and keeping water hungry trees can make this idea impractical. While farmers and scientists are looking for a way forward, the future of agriculture in the region and what it will look like from the outside remains in question.