Latest news with #PeteFalloon
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local farmers scramble to save what's left after catastrophic crop collapse: 'We urgently need help'
In January, Storm Éowyn hit Ireland, leaving a path of destruction and flooding. The record-breaking extratropical cyclone was the most powerful storm to hit Ireland since Hurricane Debbie in 1961. Now, the full extent of the damage may be coming to light. According to The Irish Times, Storm Éowyn caused over €500 million (around $540 million) in damages to forests. It also damaged winter crops such as cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and leeks, per Business Plus, which detailed the devastating effects of the storm. One farmer was deeply concerned about the destroyed winter crop and future summer crop, saying, "We urgently need help on this one." In addition to affecting existing crops, Storm Éowyn could hamper future crops. As Business Plus explained, farmers worry that the ground could be too wet for sowing new crops, leading to shortages later in the year and food price increases. Michael Kilcoyne, chief of Consumers' Association of Ireland, said, "There's a fear that prices in the shops will go up," adding, "It could be that the ground is so wet and has damaged the fields, it'll make sowing crops for later this year difficult." Ireland is rarely hit by hurricanes or cyclones. However, extreme weather events are growing more intense as global temperatures rise, and areas not previously impacted are feeling the effects. Pete Falloon of the University of Bristol shared his concerns regarding crop vulnerability and the current state of our climate, saying, "Crops are often vulnerable to extreme weather, and we can expect to witness ongoing shocks to global agricultural production and supply chains, which ultimately feed into food security concerns." In short, destroyed crops mean less food. Less food leads to higher grocery prices. There's no magic wand to make severe storms disappear. However, it may be possible to reduce their intensity and impact. Strengthening infrastructure with climate-resilient buildings, improving emergency preparedness, planning evacuations, and fortifying homes can enhance safety now. At the same time, reducing pollution from dirty fuels — the primary cause of our overheated planet — could bring an angry planet back into balance. You can contribute to a cooler future by upgrading to energy-efficient appliances known to provide significant savings on utility bills. Should grocery stores donate food that's past its sell-by date? Yes — as long as it's not bad Yes — but only certain foods Only if it doesn't cost the store No — it could lead to problems Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Guardian
15-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Extreme weather expected to cause food price volatility in 2025 after cost of cocoa and coffee doubles
Extreme weather events are expected to lead to volatile food prices throughout 2025, supply chain analysts have said, after cocoa and coffee prices more than doubled over the past year. In an apparent confirmation of warnings that climate breakdown could lead to food shortages, research by the consultancy Inverto found steep rises in the prices of a number of food commodities in the year to January that correlated with unexpected weather. Several authorities declared 2024 the hottest year on record, a trend towards higher temperatures that seems to be continuing into 2025. Inverto said a long-term trend towards more extreme weather events would continue to hit regional crop yields, causing price spikes. The highest price rises were for cocoa and coffee, up 163% and 103% respectively, due to a combination of higher than average rainfall and temperatures in producing regions, according to the research. Sunflower oil prices increased by 56% after drought caused poor crop yields in Bulgaria and Ukraine, which also continued to be affected by the Russian invasion. Other food commodities with sharp year-on-year price rises included orange juice and butter, both up by more than a third, and beef, up by just over a quarter. 'Food manufacturers and retailers should diversify their supply chains and sourcing strategies to reduce over-reliance on any one region affected by crop failures,' Katharina Erfort, of Inverto, said. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion In December, the UK government said climate breakdown and related food price inflation was leading to a rise in the number of hungry and malnourished households. Climate scientists said Inverto's findings were in line with their expectations. 'Extreme weather events around the globe will continue to increase in severity and frequency in line with the ongoing rise in global temperature,' said Pete Falloon, a food security expert at the Met Office and University of Bristol. 'Crops are often vulnerable to extreme weather, and we can expect to witness ongoing shocks to global agricultural production and supply chains, which ultimately feed into food security concerns.' Max Kotz, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said data showed heat extremes were already directly affecting food prices. 'Last year showed numerous examples of this phenomena playing out in real time, as extreme heat across east Asia drove substantial increases in the price of rice in Japan and vegetables in China,' he said. 'Market commodities were also strongly affected, with extreme heat and drought across cocoa-producing west African countries and coffee-producing regions in Brazil and Vietnam driving strong increases in prices. Until greenhouse gas emissions are actually reduced to net zero, heat and drought extremes will continue to intensify across the world, causing greater problems for agriculture and food prices than those we are currently facing.'
