Extreme Heat Puts Global Food Systems Under Strain
The world’s food systems are coming under increasing pressure from extreme heat, threatening agricultural production and the livelihoods of more than a billion people. A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says farmers are facing more frequent and intense heatwaves on land and at sea.
In some regions, food supplies are nearing their limits. In already hot areas such as India, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Central and South America, farmers can be unable to work outdoors for up to 250 days a year.
Rising temperatures are also hitting livestock production. Heat stress begins at around 25C, leading to higher mortality and lower milk yields and quality. Pigs and poultry, which cannot sweat, are particularly vulnerable.
Crop yields decline at temperatures above 30C. Maize output has fallen by around 10% in some regions, with wheat showing similar declines. Further losses are expected as global temperatures rise.
Warming oceans reduce oxygen levels in the water, leading to fish die-offs and declining populations.
Experts say better early warning systems are needed and stress the importance of adapting agriculture to changing conditions.