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El Niño drives global food price increases and supply disruptions
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is driving global food price increases and disrupting agricultural supply chains. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), staple food prices have risen by an average of one percent this year compared to 2025. This trend is fueled by Middle East conflicts and concerns over crop yields in the European Union due to extreme weather.
Experts, including Matin Qaim of the University of Bonn, warn that El Niño will likely disrupt production in Asia and Africa, disproportionately affecting low-income populations. Specific commodities such as chocolate, coffee, and olive oil are expected to face price spikes due to production shortages caused by alternating droughts and heavy rainfall.
The climate phenomenon is also forcing high-end culinary professionals to adapt. Chefs in Brazil, Japan, and Spain report difficulties in sourcing traditional ingredients like certain ants or specific fish, and are frequently forced to redesign menus due to the unpredictability of ingredient availability, quality, and transport logistics caused by floods and wildfires.
Entities
Alex Atala · Asia · El Niño-Southern Oscillation · Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · Matin Qaim · University of Bonn · University of Leeds
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Staple food prices have increased by an average of one percent this year compared to 2025. www.dagens.com · dagens.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Rising food prices are attributed to Middle East conflicts and concerns regarding crop yields in the European Union. www.dagens.com · dagens.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Production shortages are expected to cause price spikes for chocolate, coffee, and olive oil. www.dagens.com · dagens.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] El Niño is expected to disrupt global agricultural production, particularly in Asia and Africa, leading to higher prices. www.dagens.com · dagens.de