Extreme weather events across the globe are pushing food prices higher, a new study has revealed. From floods in South Asia to heatwaves in Europe and the US, climate disasters are disrupting harvests and fueling “food-flation.”
The study, analyzing 16 recent cases worldwide, showed sharp price spikes in staple foods such as potatoes in the UK, onions in India, and rice in Japan. These increases followed severe droughts, floods, and record heat.
Researchers used climate data from 1940 to 2019, showing how unusually intense weather linked directly to reduced crop yields. The findings highlight not just short-term shocks but also long-term risks. Another study, published in Nature, warned that under high-emission scenarios, food inflation could rise more than three percentage points annually in some regions.
Experts caution that nations near the equator and those heavily dependent on seasonal crops will face the greatest pressure, with local summers posing the highest risks to harvests.
