What foods have expensive most because of global warming. An extensive study provides some answers from all areas of the world
Harvest affected by extreme weather (photo M Satake, Dreamstime.com)
All over the world, foods have been very expensive in recent years, and this has happened due to global warming and extreme weather phenomena that have affected many types of harvests. Coffee, onion, salad, rice, potatoes, cocoa and cabbage are among the foods that have increased the most in recent years.
A study published in the Environmental Research Letters magazine analyzes the effect of extreme climatic events (droughts, heat waves, heavy rainfall) on food prices during the period 2022-2024, providing 15 examples from all over the world, writes The Guardian.
The study connects the sudden increases in potato prices in the UK, cabbage in South Korea, onions in India and cocoa in Ghana-of extreme weather phenomena that after 2020 have manifested more than ever.
The study shows that the price of the salad in Australia has increased four times and four times more expensive is Cacaua in Ghana. 50% increased the price of olive oil in Spain and Italy, and the type of robust coffee in Vietnam has doubled its price.
Cultures whose production is geographically concentrated in a small area are very vulnerable to climatic changes. For example, Spain provides 40% of world olive oil production. After the severe drought in southern Europe of 2022-2023, the oil price increased by 50% in a single year in the entire European Union.
Such increases do not only affect food safety and health at local level, but also have side effects worldwide.
The unprecedented temperatures of February 2024, after the drought from the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 in Ghana and the ivory coast – from which 60% of the world production of cocoa comes – led to a global cocoa price increase by 300%.
Onion and potatoes doubled their price in India, and rice has increased with 50% in Japan.
The study has the title “Climate Extreme, Food Price Spikes, and Their Wider Society Risks”
Photo source: dreamstime.com
