Recent intense rains in Rio Grande do Sul, the country’s main rice producing state, have caused significant losses in plantations, which could result in an increase in food prices, exacerbating discussions about the effects of the climate crisis on the food economy.
The heavy rainfall that hit Rio Grande do Sul last week directly impacted the state’s agricultural production. Although more than 80% of the rice crop has already been harvested, around 150 thousand hectares of active plantations and several warehouses have been severely affected, according to the Instituto Rio Grandense do Arroz (Irga).
What do you need to know:
- Impact: Intense rains in Rio Grande do Sul affected rice plantations and warehouses.
- Production: RS is the largest rice producer in Brazil, with significant losses already reported.
- Prices: Increase in food prices is expected due to damage caused by rain.
Preliminary Damage Assessment
The National Supply Company (Conab) reports that, despite the clear impact of the rains, it is still too early to precisely quantify the losses and how they will influence prices and supply in the long term. The situation requires further analysis as conditions evolve.
Reflection on the Climate and Food Crisis
Julia Catão Dias, specialist at the Sustainable Consumption Program at the Consumer Protection Institute (Idec), highlights the need to understand the dynamics between climate disasters and rising food prices. She criticizes the use of this scenario to benefit certain productive sectors and emphasizes the disproportionate impact on family farmers, who are more vulnerable to crises.
The Role of Agribusiness and Public Policies
Dias also points to the role of the agribusiness production model in climate crises and food security, arguing that family farming, which provides most of the food consumed in Brazil, needs more support in times of crisis. She criticizes the lack of effective actions by the State and the excessive power of agribusiness in shaping agricultural and environmental policies.
Global Perspective
At a global level, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the World Economic Forum have issued warnings about the impacts of global warming on food production systems and food security, with reports pointing to increasing risks for marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
