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Disasters cost global agriculture $3.26 trillion over three decades – FAO

FAO discloses this in its new report released in November 2025, tagged ,’ The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025.’

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5 months ago

November 24, 2025

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says that disasters have inflicted an estimated $3.26 trillion in agricultural losses worldwide over the past 33 years – an average of $99 billion annually, roughly 4 percent of global agricultural GDP.

FAO discloses this in its new report released in November 2025, tagged ,’ The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025.’

The report highlights how digital technologies are transforming how farmers, governments and communities can monitor risks, anticipate impacts, and protect livelihoods.

The report provides the most comprehensive global assessment to date of how disasters – from droughts and floods to pests and marine heatwaves – are disrupting food production, livelihoods and nutrition.

It also demonstrates how digital innovations are shifting agrifood systems from reactive crisis management to proactive data-driven resilience-building.

“Digital technologies are already revolutionizing how we monitor risks, deliver early warnings and support farmers’ decision-making.

From the 9.1 million farmers now accessing parametric insurance through digital platforms to the communities using our early warning systems to evacuate 90 percent of at-risk populations before disasters strike, we are witnessing a fundamental shift from reactive response to proactive risk reduction.” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in the foreword to the report.

Heavy toll on global food security

Between 1991 and 2023, disasters wiped out 4.6 billion tonnes of cereals, 2.8 billion tonnes of fruits and vegetables, and 900 million tonnes of meat and dairy.

These losses translate to a daily per capita reduction of 320 kilocalories – 13–16 percent of average energy needs.

Asia accounts for the largest share of global losses of 47 percent, totaling $1.53 trillion, reflecting both the scale of agricultural production and the region’s high exposure to floods, storms and droughts.

The Americas represent 22 percent of global losses or $713 billion, driven by recurrent droughts, hurricanes, and extreme temperature events that heavily impact large commodity crop systems.

Africa, while recording lower absolute losses of $611 billion, suffers the highest proportional impacts, losing 7.4 percent of agricultural GDP to disasters – the largest relative burden of any region.

In economies where agriculture accounts for a significant share of employment and income, these losses have had severe consequences for food security and rural stability.Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remain among the world’s most vulnerable to disasters such as cyclones, floods, and sea-level rise.

Despite relatively small agricultural output, disaster-related losses represent a disproportionately high share of agricultural GDP.

The report also finds that marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion in losses between 1985 and 2022, affecting 15 percent of global fisheries. Yet, losses in fisheries and aquaculture remain largely invisible in disaster assessments, despite supporting the livelihoods of 500 million people.

Related Topics:FAO 2025 disasters impact report on agriculture Featured

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President Tinubu Leaves for Kenya, Rwanda and France to Strengthen Strategic Partnerships

At the two summits, President Tinubu will deliver statements highlighting his administration’s ongoing reforms to reposition the nation as a prime destination for investment and growth. He will also hold high-level meetings with top-tier global and African business leaders.

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1 hour ago

May 1, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, May 2nd, on a visit to Kenya, Rwanda and France.

The itinerary details are provided by Bayo Onanuga,Special Adviser to the President(Information & Strategy), as follows:

” President Tinubu’s first stop will be in France, after which he will depart for Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the Africa-France Summit scheduled to begin next week.

Co-chaired by President Emmanuel Macron and President William Ruto, the summit focuses on energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, restructuring of global financing architecture, and climate action.

President Tinubu’s participation at the summit from May 11- 12 will underscore Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with African nations and the French Republic.

The summit, with the theme – “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth” – will provide a high-level platform for African leaders and their French counterparts to deliberate on critical issues affecting the continent, including economic transformation, climate resilience, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technological advancement, and peace-building initiatives.

At the end of the Kenyan summit, President Tinubu will depart for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the annual Africa CEO Forum, taking place between May 14th and 15th.

With the theme “Scale or Fail”, this year’s Africa CEO Forum will be the largest gathering of African private sector leaders, investors, and policymakers, focusing on accelerating economic transformation through shared scale, regional integration, and increased cross-border investment.

Held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the summit brings together over 2,000 top executives and national leaders to debate strategies for building resilient, competitive industries.

President Tinubu will be accompanied on the trip by some of his ministers and senior aides.

He will return to Nigeria at the end of the Rwanda summit. “

Business

Nigerian Lawmakers Demand Arrest of World Bank Official Calling for Reinstatement of Petroleum Import Licences

Declaring the unnamed World Bank official persona non grata, the Committee gave the Bank 30 days to issue a public retraction and written apology.

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

OCHEFA

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The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has call for the dismissal and arrest of the World Bank official responsible for the April 7, 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which recommended the reinstatement of petroleum import licences.

The Committee described the recommendation as a reckless move capable of undermining Nigeria’s indigenous refining capacity.

In a formal resolution, the Committee condemned the World Bank report, which claimed that imported petroleum products are 12 percent cheaper than those from the Dangote Refinery.

It rejected the position as contrary to Nigeria’s national economic interest and an unacceptable interference in the country’s sovereign petroleum policy.

Declaring the unnamed World Bank official persona non grata, the Committee gave the Bank 30 days to issue a public retraction and written apology.

It further demanded that the staff member responsible for the report be relieved of their duties and subjected to investigation.