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A decade ago, Scott Osborn would have eagerly told prospective vineyard owners looking to join the wine industry to jump into it. Now, his message is different. Youre crazy, said Osborn, who owns Fox Run Vineyards, a sprawling 50-acre (20-hectare) farm on Seneca Lake, the largest of New Yorks Finger Lakes. Its becoming riskier to grow grapes in the states prominent winemaking region. Harvests like Osborns are increasingly endangered by unpredictable weather from climate change. Attitudes on wine are shifting. Political tensions, such as tariffs amid President Donald Trumps trade wars and the administrations rollback of environmental policies, are also looming problems. Despite the challenges, however, many winegrowers are embracing sustainable practices, wanting to be part of the solution to global warming while hoping they can adapt to changing times. ___ EDITORS NOTE: This story is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and The Associated Press. ___ The Finger Lakes, which span a large area of western New York, have water that can sparkle and give off a sapphire hue on sunny days. More than 130 wineries dot the shorelines and offer some of Americas most famous white wines. At Fox Run, visitors step inside to sip wines and bring a bottleor twohome. Many are longtime customers, like Michele Magda and her husband, who have frequently made the trip from Pennsylvania. This is like a little escape, a little getaway, she said. Traditionally, the plants buds break out in spring, emerging with colorful grapes that range from the cabernet francs deep blues to the soft greens of the regions most popular grape, riesling. However, a warming world is making that happen earlier, adding to uncertainty and potential risks for farmers. If a frost comes after the buds have broken, growers can lose much of the harvest. Year-round rain and warmer night temperatures differentiate the Finger Lakes from its West Coast competitors, said Paul Brock, a viticulture and wine technology professor at Finger Lakes Community College. Learning to adapt to those fluctuations has given local winemakers a competitive advantage, he said. Globally, vineyards are grappling with the impacts of increasingly unpredictable weather. In France, record rainfall and harsh weather have spelled trouble for winegrowers trying their best to adapt. Along the West Coast, destructive wildfires are worsening wine quality. Winegrowers as part of the solution Many winegrowers say they are working to make their operations more sustainable, wanting to help solve climate change caused by the burning of fuels like gasoline, coal, and natural gas. Farms can become certified under initiatives such as the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program. Fox Run and more than 50 others are certified, which requires that growers improve practices like bettering soil health and protecting water quality of nearby lakes. Beyond the rustic metal gate featuring the titular foxes, some of Osborns sustainability initiatives come into view. Hundreds of solar panels powering 90% of the farms electricity are the most obvious feature. Other initiatives are more subtle, like underground webs of fungi used to insulate crops from drought and disease. We all have to do something, Osborn said. One winegrower’s sustainability push For Suzanne Hunt and her familys seventh-generation vineyard, doing something about climate change means devoting much of their efforts to sustainability. Hunt Country Vineyards, along Keuka Lake, took on initiatives like using underground geothermal pipelines for heating and cooling, along with composting. Despite the forward-looking actions, climate change is one of the factors forcing the family to make tough decisions about their future. Devastating frosts in recent years have caused catastrophic crop loss. Theyve also had to reconcile with changing consumer attitudes, as U.S. consumption of wine fell over the past few years, according to the wine industry advocacy group Wine Institute. By this years end, the vineyard will stop producing wine and instead will hold community workshops and sell certain grape varieties. The farm and the vineyard, you know, its part of me, Hunt said, adding that she wanted to be able to spend all of her time helping other farms and businesses implement sustainable practices. Ill let the people whose dream and life is to make wine do that part, and Ill happily support them. Tariffs and U.S. policy changes loom Vinny Aliperti, owner of Billsboro Winery along Seneca Lake, is working to improve the wine industrys environmental footprint. In the past year, hes helped establish communal wine bottle dumpsters that divert the glass from entering landfills and reuse it for construction materials. But Aliperti said hed like to see more nearby wineries and vineyards in sustainability efforts. The wine industrys longevity depends on it, especially under a presidential administration that doesnt seem to have sustainability at top of mind, he said. I think were all a bit scared, frankly, a bit, I mean, depressed, he said. I dont see very good things coming out of the next four years in terms of the environment. Osborn is bracing for sweeping cuts to federal environmental policies that previously made it easier to fund sustainability initiatives. Tax credits for Osborns solar panels made up about half of over $400,000 in upfront costs, in addition to some state and federal grants. Osborn wants to increase his solar production, but he said he wont have enough money without those programs. Fox Run could also lose thousands of dollars from retaliatory tariffs and boycotts of American wine from his Canadian customers. In March, Canada introduced 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goodsincluding wine. Osborn fears he cant compete with larger wine-growing states like California, which may flood the American market to make up for lost customers abroad. Smaller vineyards in the Finger Lakes might not survive thes economic pressures, he said. Back at Fox Run’s barrel room, Aric Bryant, a decade-long patron, says all the challenges make him even more supportive of New York wines. I have this, like, fierce loyalty, he said. “I go to restaurants around here, and if they dont have Finger Lakes wines on their menu, Im, like, What are you even doing serving wine? ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. ___ This story was first published on April 23, 2025. It was updated on April 28, 2025, to add context about the decision to close Hunt Country Vineyards by the end of the year. Natasha Kaiser of Rochester Institute of Technology and Makiya Seminera of The Associated Press
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Influencers get a lot of stick these days. The latest thing theyre being blamed for: shark attacks. Scientists have noted a recent rise in shark attacks, and according to new research published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science, of the 74 recorded bites in the seas around French Polynesia, 5% were assessed as acts of self-defense. Professor Eric Clua of PSL University in France, who led the research, holds social media responsible. I dont encourage, as many influencers do on social networks, [people] to cling to a sharks dorsal fin or stroke it, under the pretext of proving that they are harmless, Clua told The Times. The sharks here feel like family, one such influencer with 111,000 followers wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. In one picture, she is seen grabbing the nose of a shark; in another, she reaches out and gently pushes its nose as it swims toward her. Dont get it twisted, the sharks dont give a f*** about me, she adds in the caption. Which absolutely makes me a crazy shark lady. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Cunningham | Sharks & Freediving (@taylork.sea) While they might feel like family, that doesnt mean the sharks consent to being used as props in a social media posta lesson some people have unfortunately learned the hard way. Earlier this year, a tourist vacationing in the Caribbean was allegedly trying to take a photo of a bull shark swimming in shallow waters when it bit off both her hands. Although sharks are not naturally inclined to bite humans, they are wild predators that will act in self-defense. Researchers examined a global database known as the Shark Attack Files and found more than 300 incidents fitting the same defensive pattern, dating back to the 1800s. Most of these bites involved small and medium-size sharks, including gray reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and nurse sharks. When it comes to great whites, which are more dangerous, humans are generally wise enough to steer clear. People know the difference between a [Yorkshire terrier] and a pit bull, whereas they dont know the difference between a blacktip reef shark and a bull shark, which are their marine equivalents, Clua said. They are responsible for fewer than 10 human deaths a year worldwide. Whereas dogs are responsible for more than 10,000 deaths and are perceived positively by the public. Even using the term shark attack is misleading, researchers argue, as it creates the perception of sharks as aggressors and undermines conservation efforts that rely on public support. Around 100 million sharks are killed annually (about 274,000 per day), targeted for their fins, meat, and as bycatch. As it stands, they have more reason to be scared of you than you have of them. So, if you find yourself swimming alongside a shark, the scientific advice is simple: Look, don’t touch.
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The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Doom-and-gloom narratives about artificial intelligence going rogue to the detriment of humans are a staple of popular culture. For some people, just say AI, and visions of Skynet from the Terminator movies taking over the world will instantly pop into their heads. Skepticism about AI isnt just in the realm of science fiction, of course. As AI becomes more mainstream, legitimate concerns about its accuracy, privacy, transparency, and the possibility of job displacement continue to be voiced. Theres simply not an overabundance of trust when it comes to AI. A quick internet search will turn up plenty of surveys indicating more people than not are tired of the hype around AI and worried about potential risks. I have a different point of view. Im not the guy to ask about the downsides of AI. Im the guy who says a world you cant even imagine is right around the corner, thanks to AI. What happens with this new technology is entirely up to us. Its ours to own and do amazing things to make lives better. If we embrace and employ it wisely, AI will be a tremendous positive for people. I believe in AI for good. Why Im optimistic I come to my optimism in the most personal way possible. Technology changed my life and perhaps even saved it. In my mid-20s, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition where my immune system attacked insulin-producing cells in my pancreas. For years, my body was a constant chemistry experiment due to a lifelong dependence on prescription insulin. I had to check my blood sugar with a fingerstick 10 times a day, and then inject myself with insulin another 10 times a day. Administering too much or too little made for some very panicky moments. Today, I have an insulin pump attached to one side of my abdomen and an insulin sensor on the other. Those two amazing devices communicate in real time and deliver the proper dosage I need to stay healthy. It just happens automatically. The result is that Im blessed with a safer, more productive, and more enjoyable life. So, I have a deep appreciation of the profound and transformative nature of technology in our lives. Lets extend this to AI. I recently spoke with leaders at a hospital network who are reimagining how AI can improve care. Their vision? When a child is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, theyre immediately supported by a lifelong AI assistantone that understands their condition, offers guidance, and grows with them. I wish Id had that kind of support years ago. Its not about replacing doctors or caregivers. Its about augmenting care with intelligencesafely, consistently, and with empathy. Thats just one example. I believe AI should be used to solve real human problems making essentials like food, shelter, healthcare, and opportunity more accessible to more people. The promise of AI is longer, healthier lives. Smarter, more sustainable systems. At its best, AI doesnt remove the human element, it amplifies it. Thats what this moment demands, not just building technology, but building a better world with it. We still need guardrails Now, theres a difference between being optimistic and a starry-eyed Pollyanna. This vision only happens if AI is carefully curated and managed. Secure guardrails must be in place to ensure AI is used responsibly, ethically, and morally. We must be careful to ensure AI models are free of biases and inaccuracies. And in the workplace, we must deploy AI to help people perform their jobs better, not replace them. The biggest worry I hear about AI is the fear of employment loss. Trust me, I get how AI can be a scary topic if we think it will impact our livelihoods. But history is a good guide in showing us what ultimately happens when new technologies emerge and change the old ways of doing things. Consider some of the great shifts of the past, whether it was the Industrial Revolution, the manufacturing revolution, or the computing revolution. There was always the concern that the machines were coming for our jobs. Yes, there were adjustment periods. But the jobs didnt go away. They just changed. In the process, quality of life improved. Well likely see something similar with AI. The people who will thrive in this new era and have nothing to fear are those who learn to use AI in their daily roles. Thats because humans will always be in the loop. Well be the ones overseeing and orchestrating AI processes. Instead of AI eliminating roles for humans, we should think more about the era of the super-human thanks to AI. Great technology reduces tedious work, makes our lives easier, and allows us to focus on the activities that make our careers more rewarding. AI will take that to the next level. Weve all been hearing so much about the potential of AI agents to help us do our jobs. But they will need watchful management and governance to ensure they aid, not hinder, our businesses. Well need to be attentive stewards to increase AIs veracity and credibility to ensure it becomes practical in our lives. When properly managed, I unequivocally believe AI should be embraced, not feared. If we do that, powerful agentic systems will do far more than make our businesses hyperproductive. They will transform everything. What this world looks like in 10 years will be extraordinarythanks to AI. Steve Lucas is CEO and chairman of Boomi. Hes the author of the new book Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Transformation.
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