El Niño threatens global food security and regional weather patterns

A strengthening El Niño phenomenon is driving extreme weather patterns globally, threatening food security and causing significant regional disruptions. The United Nations World Food Programme warns that the phenomenon could push nearly 50 million people into acute hunger by the end of the year.

In Europe, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Joint Research Centre report that climate change and heatwaves are threatening both summer and winter crop yields. This has contributed to rising global cereal prices, with wheat increasing by 5.8% and corn by 3.6%. Low water levels on major waterways like the Danube and Rhine are further complicating supply chains. Italy's central and northern agricultural regions are among those most heavily impacted by heat stress and water shortages.

In Vietnam, the Southern Institute of Hydrometeorology predicts that a ‘super El Niño’—which may surpass the intensity of the 2015-2016 event—could cause the rainy season in southern Vietnam to end 10 to 20 days earlier than usual. This shift is expected to increase heatwaves and result in significant rainfall deficits across the region, including areas like Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.