Joint report By Food and Agriculture Organization (fao) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) he finds Extreme heat is already causing half a trillion working hours to be lost each year, with the impact set to worsen as temperatures rise.
“Extreme heat is increasingly defining the conditions under which agri-food systems operate,” Said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that it “acts as a compounding risk factor that amplifies existing vulnerabilities in agricultural systems.”
The report highlights how heatwaves – prolonged periods of abnormally high day and night temperatures – are affecting crops, livestock, fisheries and forests, while also putting agricultural workers at grave risk.
a risk multiplier
Extreme heat is “a huge risk multiplier,” said Qi Dongyu, FAO director-general, “placing increasing pressure on crops, livestock, fisheries and forests, and the communities and economies that depend on them.”
The impact is already visible across all agricultural systems. Yields of many major crops begin to decline above 30°C (86°F)Due to which the structure of the plants became weak and productivity reduced. Livestock experience stress at temperatures even lower than this, especially pigs and poultry, which cannot cool themselves efficiently, resulting in reduced growth, reduced dairy yields and, in severe cases, organ failure.
In the oceans, rising temperatures are reducing oxygen levels, putting fish under stress – 91 percent of the global ocean will experience at least one marine heatwave in 2024. Forests are also affected, as extreme heat disrupts photosynthesis and increases the risk of wildfires.
Extreme heat also increases other climate risks. This could lead to drought, increase water scarcity, increase wildfire risks and accelerate the spread of pests and diseases – what the report describes as a “compound effect” that ripples throughout ecosystems.
‘Serious impact’ a reality
In some areas, these impacts are already severe.
For example, the 2025 heat event in Kyrgyzstan saw an increase in temperatures About 10°C above normal, causing a 25 percent drop in grain yieldsWhile also triggering locust swarms and reducing irrigation capacity.
elsewhere, Prolonged heat and drought conditions in Brazil could reduce soybean yields by up to 20 percent in 2023 and 2024While a major heat wave across North America in 2021 caused significant damage to fruit crops and a sharp increase in wildfires.
The human toll is equally serious. In South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America, The number of extremely hot days to work could increase to 250 per year – Putting millions of agricultural workers at risk and reducing food production.
Extreme heat is reshaping farming conditions globally, threatening food security and rural livelihoods. (file photo)
call to action
To respond, the report calls for urgent adaptation measures, including heat-resistant crops, adjusted planting schedules, and better farm management practices.
Early warning systems and access to financial support – such as insurance and social protection – are also important to help farmers cope with increased risks.
“Protecting the future of agriculture and ensuring global food security will require not only building resilience on the farm, but also a decisive shift away from a high-emissions future.“The UN agencies conclude.
