Food Price Increases and the Climate Crisis

Food Price Increases and Climate Crisis ÇEVKO Foundation General Secretary Mete İmer drew attention to a larger threat hidden behind rising food prices globally. Noting that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index recorded a 28.1% increase worldwide in 2021 compared to the previous year and reached the highest level in 10 years with an average of 125.7 points, Mete İmer stated, "According to FAO officials, while high prices are normally expected to boost production, the high input costs, the ongoing global pandemic and increasingly uncertain climate conditions leave no room for optimism in 2022."

Climate Crisis as the Greatest Chronic Threat

Mete İmer, noting that the climate crisis—the true major threat facing the world—is among the fundamental causes of global food price increases due to its powerful impact on agricultural productivity, said: "The rise in food prices affects all countries to varying degrees, and each country faces different dynamics in its own economy. Besides sudden emerging risks such as the global health crisis and pandemic, followed by the food crisis and food price increases, we must not overlook other important risks that pose chronic threats to the world and humanity. The most important of these risks is the climate crisis. The climate crisis is not a risk awaiting us in the future, but a process we are currently living through that affects life on Earth. In the fight against the climate crisis, which is a chronic threat, significant responsibilities fall to individuals, public authorities, industry and civil society organizations," he said. Mete İmer, noting that UN data clearly reveals the problems caused by the climate crisis in food systems, continued: "Climate change is a significant cause of hunger. Unsustainable use of land, soil, water and energy for food increases greenhouse gas emissions that drive up temperatures; high temperatures negatively affect the resources needed to produce food. In 2020, nearly 811 million people faced hunger, a figure 161 million higher than 2019." he said.

Turkey – United Nations Cooperation

Mete İmer also added to his remarks that it has been demonstrated through respected scientific research conducted in Turkey and worldwide that climate change poses a major risk affecting agricultural supply and food access globally, triggering migration waves and triggering natural disasters, and said: "As inflation raises food prices in the world and Turkey, the agricultural food system faces many threats including the climate crisis, conflicts and economic shocks. To develop solutions to these problems, a technical cooperation project titled 'Advanced Cost and Price Monitoring Support in Agricultural Food Supply Chains' is being developed between Turkey and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry," he said. On the impacts of climate change on food systems, Mete İmer also said: "At high temperatures, harvests and yields decline; waste increases. The oceans have absorbed ninety percent of the excessive heat created in the climate system, becoming more acidic as a result. Overfishing and ocean acidification threaten marine resources that feed 3.2 billion people. Changes occurring in snow cover in polar regions, ice in lakes and rivers and frozen soil have made food obtained through grazing, hunting, fishing and gathering activities less productive, harming the livelihoods and cultural identities of those living in the polar regions."

Search for Solutions Continues

Mete İmer, noting that some proposals are being developed worldwide to solve the problems created by the climate crisis on food systems, said: "Erosion control, rangeland management, drought and heat-resistant genetic improvements, diverse nutrition patterns, reduced food loss and waste, and methods to be developed for food systems to adapt to climate change can be cited as examples. Climate-smart agriculture initiatives developed at pilot scale in many countries have increased productivity, reduced emissions, improved water efficiency and soil quality, and increased incomes and climate resilience. Healthy and sustainable nutrition offers significant opportunities, including reducing emissions from food systems, low energy use and reducing food derived from land animals," he said and continued: "For our country, determining the impacts of the climate crisis on food systems, developing and implementing solutions are critically important. Unfortunately, under current conditions, it seems unlikely that food prices will decline in the short term either in the world or in our country." Mete İmer, noting that environmental sustainability is the most important agenda item for food producers worldwide and in Turkey, said, "Responsible resource use, environmentally friendly production processes and packaging, more efficient waste management and transition to a circular economy are solution methods on the agenda of the food economy worldwide. The fight against the climate crisis and transition to a circular economy are at the forefront of the new focus areas of ÇEVKO Foundation. In these fields, we are reinforcing our intellectual leadership with a range of products and services ranging from consulting services we provide to business organizations and local administrations to digital solutions. We place importance on developing current services in line with the needs of society and the business world," he said.

Environmental Impact of Food Production Activities

Systems used to produce, package and distribute food account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions and cause 80% of biodiversity loss. If not addressed, emissions from food systems are expected to increase by 40% by 2050. The food system currently accounts for 30% of the world's total energy consumption, and much of this energy is produced from fossil fuels that cause emissions. 17% of food becomes waste, and 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from unconsumed food.

Details of food price increases worldwide in 2021:

The FAO Cereal Price Index reached its highest level since 2012, recording a 27.2% increase compared to 2020; within the cereal group, corn saw a 44.1% increase and wheat a 31.3% increase, while rice saw a 4% decrease. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 65.8% compared to 2020, marking a historic high increase. The FAO Sugar Price Index reached its highest value since 2016, increasing 29.8% compared to 2020. The FAO Meat Price Index increased 12.7% compared to 2020; The FAO Dairy Price Index recorded a 16.9% increase.