Food price fears after Europe’s heatwave destroys estimated €2bn of crops. Record June temperatures are expected to cut grain harvest by 9m tonnes to its lowest level since 2018, the crop losses caused by Europe’s highest recorded June temperatures. Maize was affected during the crucial pollination period, while wheat was affected during the time known as “grain fill”, when cereals need moisture to fill out, a key stage of development for crop yield.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 report concludes in one part that there are 2.69 billion people unable to afford a diverse diet that meets their energy and nutrient needs/ government policies had typically focused on subsidising cereals and starchy staples, rather than meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables. “That means calories, but not a diversity of diet,” one writer of the report said, highlighting the impact of this on rates of obesity and diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Figures from the World Health Organization, another of the UN agencies behind the report, show adult obesity rose from 12.1% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2024. Statistics may not be so exactly precise but they do give a clear indication of the partial nature of reduction in global hunger.
The Del Monte pineapple plantation in Kenya’s Murang’a county is the largest exporter of the country’s produce, including to several UK supermarkets, and is worth more than $100 million. The average monthly salary in the county is about £280 ($380) and not surprising that pineapple theft is common. It, like the early 19th century docks of London has created a huge “security” force., first the company’s own till after several killings attributed to them, the company replaced them, perhaps conscious of the reputations for murderous violence of the fruit oligopolies in the 20th century which prompted the dissolution of United Fruit and re-emergence as Chiquita. In Kenya Del Monte hired the international “security” company GS4 instead, 270 agents in all. They have worked in tandem with elements of the Kenyan police whose own brutality has been described in TERROR columns of wealthofnegations. Since this change of these “security” arrangements. Three more men have been killed Stephen Marrubu Kibandi, Haron Kane Kibandi and Michaerl Muiruri.
The wriggling of official forces when it comes to the obvious consequences of climate change on food production and price has disappeared when it comes to an especially strong El Nino weather pattern now foreseen when it can be framed as a “natural” phenomenon. But its effect on the most exposed crops – including rice, palm oil, sugar and coffee – could raise their prices by 50% to 100% or more, in the most affected parts of the world and the international price of cocoa and soya. It is estimated that 36 million people will be pushed into “food insecurity”.
The flooding in southern Asia described in WATER 20.07, attacked the tea plantations of India. “Unprecedented flood fury paralyses life, operations in tea estates of Nazira region of Assam”, following incessant rainfall and a cloudburst in the adjoining State of Nagaland. Thousands of tea workers have been forced to leave home.