A new Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report,  “The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025” highlights the role of disasters in disrupting food production and also identifies digital transformation as a game-changer for agricultural disaster risk reduction.

Key Highlights from the Report

• Total Financial Impact: Disasters caused $3.26 trillion in agricultural losses over 33 years (1991–2023), averaging $99 billion annually, equivalent to 4 percent of global agricultural GDP.
• Food Production Losses: 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, causing a 320 kilocalorie daily per capita reduction, equivalent to 13–16 percent of average energy needs.
• Fisheries Impact: Marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion in losses between 1985–2022, affecting 15 percent of global fisheries, though such losses remain largely invisible in disaster assessments despite supporting 500 million livelihoods.
• Regional Impact Assessment:
  • Asia – Largest Share (47%): Asia suffered $1.53 trillion in losses due to high exposure to floods, storms, and droughts, reflecting both production scale and climatic vulnerability.
  • Americas – 22% of Global Losses: The Americas recorded $713 billion in losses driven by recurrent droughts, hurricanes, and extreme temperatures affecting major commodity crops.
  • Africa – Highest Relative Burden: Africa’s losses reached $611 billion, representing 7.4 percent of agricultural GDP, the highest proportional impact globally, with severe consequences for food security and rural livelihoods.
  • Lower-middle-income countries face the highest relative losses at 5 percent of agricultural GDP, exceeding both low-income countries (3 percent) and high-income countries (4 percent)
  • SIDS – Extreme Vulnerability: Small Island Developing States face disproportionately high agricultural GDP losses from cyclones, floods, and sea-level rise, despite smaller production volumes.
• Inclusion Gaps and Access Challenges:
  • Digital Divide: Over 2.6 billion people remain offline, mostly in rural and disaster-prone areas most exposed to agricultural risks.
  • Need for Human-Centred Design: FAO stresses that digital transformation must be paired with capacity-building, institutional strengthening, and inclusive policy frameworks.
  • Equity Concerns: Innovations must reach smallholder farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous communities to ensure broad resilience benefits.

Role of Digital Technologies Transforming Risk Management

FAO identifies digital innovation as a game-changer for disaster risk reduction in agriculture and food production:

• AI and Remote Sensing: Advanced tools such as AI, drones, sensors, and remote sensing enable hyperlocal, real-time monitoring for early warnings and impact anticipation.
• Climate Risk Toolbox (CRTB): Integrates global datasets to support agricultural planning across 200+ projects.
• Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) Platform: Matches soil and fertilizer data to guide sustainable farming decisions.
• Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) System: Tracks fall armyworm infestations across 60+ countries using mobile-based monitoring.
• Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS): Early actions enabled through GIEWS yield up to seven-dollar returns for every dollar invested.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

Policy Recommendations

• Advance Digital Innovation: Governments and international partners must expand digital solutions in agrifood systems to enhance disaster risk reduction and food security.
• Integrate Digital Tools in Policies: FAO calls for embedding digital technologies into national agricultural policies and strategies for long-term resilience.
• Increase Investment: Strengthening digital infrastructure and literacy is essential to enable adoption, accessibility, and informed agricultural decision-making.
• Promote Coherent Frameworks: Stronger institutional frameworks and regulatory support are critical to scale risk management technologies.

DOWNLOAD PDF