1403. Impact of Climate-Related Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)'s 2025 report, "The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security," published every two years, warns that climate-related disasters are causing significant losses in water availability, soil health, and agricultural productivity. It emphasizes the need for integrated water resource management and the expansion of digital solutions to predict, mitigate, and manage risks as a foundation for resilience.

Agricultural losses due to disasters are estimated to amount to US$3.26 trillion over the 33-year period from 1991 to 2023, averaging US$99 billion per year. Cereal losses are the greatest, reaching 4.6 billion tons, followed by fruits and vegetables (2.8 billion tons) and meat and dairy losses (0.9 billion tons). By region, Africa, while experiencing low absolute losses, is estimated to bear the greatest relative burden at 7.4% of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP). Low- and middle-income countries will experience the highest relative losses at 5% of agricultural GDP, exceeding both low-income (3%) and high-income (4%) countries. This highlights a critical gap where high risk and vulnerability combine with a lack of resilient infrastructure.

Disaster-related production losses equate to a global reduction in supply of 320 kcal per person per day; iron losses amount to 60% of men's requirements; and severe deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals may particularly affect vulnerable populations. Marine heatwaves alone are estimated to have caused fisheries losses of US$6.6 billion between 1985 and 2022, affecting 15% of the world's fisheries and resulting in production losses of more than 5.6 million tons.

The impacts of disasters on agriculture go far beyond direct production losses and include infrastructure damage, market disruptions, financial system failures, and the degradation of ecosystem services.

Digital technologies and tools are revolutionizing risk monitoring in agriculture. Data platforms fill infrastructure gaps and enable the timely and large-scale implementation of risk transfer mechanisms such as insurance and social security. Digital solutions enable a shift from reactive to proactive risk reduction and prevention. Improved access to real-time, actionable information strengthens the ability of policymakers and farmers to make risk-informed decisions.

Coherent policy frameworks are essential to scale and sustain digital solutions, ensure their alignment with local priorities, and create the conditions for long-term resilience building across the agri-food system. Digital solutions are most effective when co-designed with the communities they serve (e.g., smallholder farmers).

Successful digital solutions require adaptive approaches and strong multi-stakeholder partnerships. Tailoring tools to local contexts and fostering collaboration among governments, research institutions, the private sector, civil society, and agricultural communities ensures scalability, interoperability, and sustainable impact.

(Reference)
FAO. 2025. The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025 – Digital solutions for reducing risks and impacts. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7185en

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program