# Global food supply disruptions from El Niño > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-food-supply-disruptions-from-el-nio > Updated: 2026-09-26T14:37:26.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2. The El Niño climate phenomenon, characterized by extreme weather such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, is causing significant disruptions to global food supplies and prices. Researchers have identified several vulnerable commodities. Cocoa production in the Ivory Coast is threatened by erratic weather, while European potato harvests have faced significant deficits due to drought. Other impacted goods include leafy greens, olive oil, and bread, the latter of which is also affected by rising energy costs. In the Mediterranean, extreme weather has also impacted essential crops like rice, citrus, and vineyards. These supply chain instabilities are directly impacting the culinary industry. At the Apapaxoa gastronomic festival in Mexico, culinary leaders shared how extreme weather is reshaping high-end dining. In Brazil, chef Alex Atala of D.O.M. reported having to adjust his annual menu almost weekly due to the difficulty of sourcing traditional ingredients, such as ants from the Amazon. Atala noted that flooded roads or wildfires often delay deliveries, compromising freshness, and warned that the scarcity of ingredients represents a “cultural loss” as traditions tied to specific foods vanish. Other chefs are turning to inventive substitutes to combat shortages. In Copenhagen, Rasmus Munk of Alchemist is experimenting with cocoa-free chocolate alternatives made from beer byproducts. In Colombia, Alvaro Clavijo of El Chato reported shortages of Andean tubers and cocoa pulp, compounded by municipal water rationing. Additionally, the phenomenon has led to the emergence of warm-water fish in Japan. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-26: El Nino climate patterns force global chefs to rewrite menus The El Nino climate phenomenon is disrupting global food systems, forcing top chefs to frequently alter menus due to ingredient shortages, price spikes, and weather-related supply chain delays. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-nino-climate-patterns-force-global-chefs-to-rewrite-menus ### 2026-09-24: El Niño and energy costs drive up global food prices El Niño and rising energy costs are driving up global food prices, specifically impacting chocolate, potatoes, leafy vegetables, bread, and olive oil due to extreme weather and production expenses. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-nio-and-energy-costs-drive-up-global-food-prices --- Cite as: Global food supply disruptions from El Niño. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-food-supply-disruptions-from-el-nio