Global food system faces unprecedented strain from trade, climate and energy disruptions

The global food system is being squeezed on three fronts at once: trade, energy and climate, according to The New York Times, which said the assumptions that have underpinned cheap, abundant food are all under strain.

Evan Fraser, a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, told the newspaper that the modern food economy depends on “seamless trade, cheap energy, stable climate”, adding that none of those conditions appears secure now.

The pressure on ...

trade is especially acute. Major shipping routes used for agricultural commodities have become more fragile as conflict affects the Black Sea and Red Sea, complicating the movement of wheat and other staples. The Strait of Hormuz has also emerged as a concern because of its importance to global energy and fertiliser flows. In May, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that disruption around the strait could contribute to a serious global food crisis.

At the same time, extreme weather is weakening production in several regions. Europe, a major agricultural exporter, has been hit by severe heat that is cutting yields, while drought is also hurting American farmers. Australia, another major wheat producer, has faced fertiliser shortages linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, further exposing how quickly problems in one part of the world can ripple through the food chain.

The FAO has repeatedly argued that open, rules-based trade remains central to food security, saying it helps calm prices, widen choice and improve access to nutritious food. The organisation has also urged governments to avoid export curbs and improve market transparency. Research cited by the World Economic Forum similarly suggests that trade can make healthy diets more affordable and more diverse, although it depends on supporting infrastructure such as roads, storage and finance.

The broader picture, according to the Forum, is that climate change, energy use and fragile supply routes are converging to make food systems more vulnerable. That leaves the world with a harder task than simply growing more food: it must also keep it moving, keep production resilient and reduce the risks that can turn local shocks into global shortages.

Source: Noah Wire Services