A recent study by researchers in Germany suggests that climate change, particularly rising temperatures, could significantly impact food prices, leading to an annual increase in food prices of up to 3.2%. This inflationary trend is expected to contribute to a larger proportion of household income being allocated to food expenditures by 2035, affecting both high and low-income countries. The Global South, including Africa, is anticipated to bear the brunt of these effects, despite contributing minimally to the causes of climate change.
Jessica Boxall and Michael Head, researchers at the University of Southampton, conducted a study on food security in Ghana, highlighting the practical implications of food price inflation. Ghana, characterized as a climate change “hotspot” by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, faces heightened vulnerability due to extreme temperature rises and reduced rainfall, particularly impacting its agriculture-dependent population.
Their study, conducted in a rural area in northern Ghana, revealed widespread food insecurity, with climate change being cited as a significant factor by nearly all respondents. The prevalence of food insecurity surpassed national averages and resembled rates seen in some of the poorest West African countries. Shifting seasons, increased pest and disease outbreaks, and heat stress further compound food insecurity, driving prices higher and diminishing purchasing power.
The escalation of food prices exacerbates health and nutritional challenges, potentially leading to compromised food quality and increased susceptibility to disease. Informed populations were found to be less susceptible to food insecurity, underscoring the importance of awareness and proactive mitigation efforts.
In response to these challenges, 134 countries at COP28 pledged to incorporate greenhouse gas emissions from the food industry and agriculture into their national climate change strategies. The German study suggests that reducing emissions could mitigate the economic impact of climate change. Additionally, government interventions, such as financial protection and nutritional assistance, are recommended to support vulnerable populations at risk of falling into cycles of poverty due to inflation and reduced food access.
