Uncertain weather forecasts are raising grocery costs
Predictions of extreme weather events are increasingly affecting food prices, driving up costs even before actual climate shocks occur.
Ayurella Horn-Muller reports for Grist.
In short:
- Weather forecasts can prompt food manufacturers to raise prices in anticipation of supply chain disruptions.
- Increased costs in production and transportation due to extreme weather are often passed on to consumers.
- The resilience of the food supply chain mitigates some impacts, but rising frequency of climate events threatens stability.
Key quote:
“When it comes to the climate risk on food prices, people typically look at the production side. But over the last two years, we learned that extreme weather can raise food prices, [cause] transportation disruptions, as well as production disruptions.”
— Seungki Lee, agricultural economist at Ohio State University
Why this matters:
As meteorologists warn of potential droughts, floods, or hurricanes, commodity traders react swiftly, often raising prices and premiums to mitigate perceived risks. These preemptive hikes ripple through the supply chain, ultimately reaching consumers who are already strained by rising costs.
