ROME, November 16, 2025: Global agriculture has suffered losses of approximately $3.26 trillion over the past three decades as a result of natural disasters, according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The assessment, titled The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025, found that disasters have cost the agricultural sector an average of $99 billion annually, equal to around 4 percent of global agricultural GDP between 1991 and 2023.
The FAO report presents the most extensive analysis to date of how natural hazards have affected global food production and rural livelihoods. It attributes the losses to events including droughts, floods, storms, pest outbreaks, and marine heatwaves. These disruptions, the report notes, have had wide-reaching consequences for food supply chains, nutrition, and economic stability in regions heavily dependent on agriculture.
Over the 33-year period covered, disasters wiped out an estimated 4.6 billion tonnes of cereals, 2.8 billion tonnes of fruits and vegetables, and 900 million tonnes of meat and dairy products. FAO data show that these losses equate to a daily global reduction of 320 kilocalories per person, representing about 13 to 16 percent of average energy requirements. The agency said the findings reflect how recurring natural disasters continue to erode food availability and threaten progress toward sustainable agricultural development.
Asia recorded the largest share of total losses, amounting to $1.53 trillion, or 47 percent of the global total. The region’s vast agricultural base and its exposure to floods, storms, and droughts have made it particularly vulnerable. The Americas accounted for 22 percent of losses, or roughly $713 billion, as frequent droughts, hurricanes, and extreme temperature events disrupted key commodity crops.
Africa faces the highest proportional impact from farm disruptions
In Africa, agricultural losses totaled $611 billion over the same period. Although smaller in absolute terms, the continent suffered the highest proportional impact, losing 7.4 percent of its agricultural GDP to disasters. The report stated that this burden has placed significant pressure on food systems and livelihoods, particularly in countries where agriculture represents a major share of employment and national income
The FAO also reported that marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion in losses between 1985 and 2022, affecting around 15 percent of global fisheries. Despite their importance to food security and employment, fisheries and aquaculture remain underrepresented in disaster assessments, even though they support an estimated 500 million people worldwide. The organization said that improved data collection in these areas is necessary to fully understand the scope of climate-related impacts on global food production.
Climate events continue to disrupt global food production
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said digital tools are reshaping how risks are managed across the agricultural sector. “Digital technologies are already revolutionizing how we monitor risks, deliver early warnings, and support farmers’ decision-making,” he said in the report’s foreword. He noted that 9.1 million farmers now have access to parametric insurance through digital platforms and that early warning systems have enabled communities to evacuate up to 90 percent of at-risk populations before disasters occur.
The report concluded that the growing use of data-driven technologies is helping shift global agriculture from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction. The FAO emphasized the importance of investing in digital infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, and improved risk management systems to strengthen food security and safeguard livelihoods against future shocks. – By Content Syndication Services.