Hotline: 0274 383 347
Saturday, 23-8-25 10:03:49

World

Hotline: 0274 383 347

El Nino could 'disrupt food markets'

Parts of the Pacific Ocean are unusually warm (in red)

Global food markets could be disrupted by the El Nino event predicted for later this year.

A strong El Nino is likely to increase prices of staple foods such as rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa, say scientists.

 

Forecasters agree that the El Nino effect, which can drive droughts and flooding, is under way in the tropical Pacific.

But they say it is too early to say how severe it will be.

Reduced rainfall could be felt in India and West Africa as early as June, say scientists.

The consequences of El Nino are much less clear for Europe and the UK, although they can lead to British winters that are dry with heavy snowfall.

"It's likely there will be at least a moderate El Nino this year," said Prof Adam Scaife of the Met Office.

"I think there is very good agreement across the different [forecasting] centres that this is coming."

He said there was a 70% chance of a "moderate" El Nino event towards the end of this year that is likely to lead to droughts and crop failures.

Although it is too early to say how strong the event will be and whether it will persist throughout the year, a strong El Nino has the potential to "disrupt global food markets", said Dr Nick Klingaman of the University of Reading.

He said coffee plantations in Brazil "already on the brink of failure" could be jeopardised, while reduced rainfall in Australia could affect banana and sugarcane crops as well as cattle herds.

A moderately strong El Nino in 2002 was linked with a drier monsoon than normal in India, ruining crops such as groundnut and rice.

"Most El Ninos historically have had a global impact on food prices," he said.

"We tend to see an increase in price of 5 to 10% on average for things like coffee, soybeans and cocoa."

Monsoons

The El Nino five years ago was linked with poor monsoons in Southeast Asia, droughts in southern Australia, the Philippines and Ecuador, blizzards in the US, heatwaves in Brazil and extreme flooding in Mexico.

Prof Eric Guilyardi of the University of Reading said current models point to an event on a similar scale to that of 2009/10, but perhaps as strong as in 1997/98, which was particularly extreme.

However, he cautioned that "every El Nino is different, so its impacts are different".

The warming of parts of the ocean is also likely to have a knock-on effect for global temperatures.

"Global temperatures are very high and this is partly attributable to the El Nino evolving now," said Prof Scaife.

Climate change

The El Nino is a warming of the Pacific Ocean as part of a complex cycle linking atmosphere and ocean.

An El Nino comes along about every two to seven years as part of a natural cycle.

Research suggests that extreme El Nino events will become more likely as global temperatures rise.

Models suggest that climate change could double the number of extreme El Ninos after 2050.

BBC

Tags: El Nino

Malaysia launches ASEAN startup platform

Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on June 25 officially launched “Startup ASEAN”,

ASEAN steps up terrorism fight in digital age

The Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter‑Terrorism (SEARCCT) under Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an international conference in Kuala Lumpur on June 24

Singapore's core inflation falls in May

Singapore’s core inflation and overall inflation are projected to average between 0.5% and 1.5% this year.

Indonesia concludes FTA talks with Eurasian Economic Union

Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have officially concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), aiming to sign the deal later this year,

ASEAN education ministers agree on joint statement on student dropout

The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges"

ASEAN reaffirms commitment to advancing green energy agenda

The 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), held from June 16–18, marked a significant milestone as member states reached consensus on key strategic agendas

Indonesia to start operating first ocean power plant in 2028

The project is planned to be developed in two phases with each phase of 20 MW in East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara.

ASEAN identified as strategic partner of Argentina

In 2023, trade turnover between Argentina and ASEAN exceeded 9 billion USD, with Argentina

Leaders extend congratulations on Russia Day

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and State President Luong Cuong on June 12 cabled their messages of congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day (June 12, 1990).

Indonesia aims to stop corn imports in 2026

President Prabowo noted that in 2024, the country imported around 500,000 tonnes of corn.

Enterprise - Brand

Company Social Media Net

Company VIETNAMNAY

Company HANEL MIROLIN

Company Keangnam - vina

Company HP Travel

Company Keloph