Will extreme weather lead to multiple breadbasket failures and threaten global food security?
Currently, 80% of the world’s people rely on just three agricultural commodities as primary food staples: Maize, rice, and wheat.
- weather
- food security
- weather shocks
Currently, 80% of the world’s people rely on just three agricultural commodities as primary food staples: Maize, rice, and wheat. Production of these staple foods is concentrated in a small number of countries and regions, often called “breadbaskets.” At the same time, the incidence of climate-driven droughts, storms, floods, and related shocks is on the rise, creating large-scale threats to agricultural production in these areas. Recent research suggests that climate change will increase both the volatility of agricultural output and correlations across regions.
If crisis hits more than one breadbasket region at the same time, the scale of economic disruption can be significant. What dangers do such multiple breadbasket failures (MBBFs) present to global food security?