Climate change is making groceries more expensive across the globe, as extreme weather events-droughts, floods, and heat waves-disrupt agricultural production and inflate food prices, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and the European Central Bank linked recent price surges to extreme weather driven by climate change. Their study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Letters, analyzed 16 major weather events worldwide between 2022 and 2024.

“Unprecedented conditions are set to become increasingly common across the world,” the authors warned, adding that agricultural and economic systems are struggling to adapt.

The UK-based nonprofit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) estimated that climate change added £361 (about $484) to British food bills over 2022 and 2023.

Drug-resistant typhoid poses global health threat

In the US, vegetable prices soared over 80% in 2022 after California faced its driest three-year period on record and Arizona suffered water cuts from the drought-stricken Colorado River. Meanwhile, Hurricane Ian further disrupted supplies in Florida.

In Asia, a heat wave pushed Chinese vegetable prices up by over 40% between June and September, while South Korean napa cabbage prices rose nearly 70%, impacting kimchi production.

Australia saw lettuce prices jump more than 300% following devastating floods in early 2022, with iceberg lettuce reaching A$12 per head-prompting fast-food giant KFC to replace lettuce with cabbage.

Although some price hikes may be temporary, experts warn that crops like coffee and cattle-which require specific growing conditions, could face prolonged inflation.

The authors stress that reducing emissions and boosting climate adaptation measures are essential to manage future food price risks.

Source: NDTV