Conflicts and extreme weather pushing global food prices higher, warns UN

What the report says

The United Nations says global food prices have climbed to a four-year high, underscoring how conflict and extreme weather are affecting supply chains and farm output. In a report published Friday, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said its Food Price Index rose for a third consecutive month to 133.3 points in August, its highest level since late 2022.

According to the FAO, every major category in the index increased over the month, including cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, meat and dairy. The strongest rise came in sugar, while cereal prices also moved higher to their highest level in more than two years. The agency said the increase reflects tighter supply expectations linked to climate shocks, geopolitical tensions and disrupted trade logistics.

The report pointed to several pressures behind the higher prices. Military strikes have affected shipping routes through the Black Sea, which are important for Russian and Ukrainian grain exports, while conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has strained fertiliser supplies. The article also notes that heatwaves in Europe and the return of El Nino are threatening crop yields and food production in other regions.

The warning matters because higher wholesale food costs often feed into consumer prices later. The World Food Programme has separately cautioned that El Nino could push millions more people into acute hunger. That broader context suggests the latest price rise may deepen food insecurity in already vulnerable countries.