According
to
the
FAO,
disasters
caused
an
average
of
US$99
billion
in
agricultural
losses
annually
between
1991
and
2023.
Cereal
crops
were
the
hardest
hit,
with
an
estimated
4.6
billion
tonnes
lost,
followed
by
2.8
billion
tonnes
of
fruits
and
vegetables,
and
900
million
tonnes
of
meat
and
dairy.
“Africa
is
estimated
to
bear
the
highest
relative
burden
at
7.4
percent
of
agricultural
gross
domestic
product
(GDP)
despite
lower
absolute
losses,”
the
report
says.
It
adds
that
lower-middle-income
countries
face
the
greatest
pressure,
with
losses
equivalent
to
5
percent
of
agricultural
GDP.
The
FAO
warns
that
the
impact
of
these
losses
is
already
visible
in
global
food
availability.
Reduced
production
corresponds
to
a
decline
of
around
320
kilocalories
per
person
per
day.
“Iron
losses
correspond
to
60
percent
of
requirements
for
men
and
critical
shortfalls
in
essential
vitamins
and
minerals
that
have
the
potential
to
disproportionately
affect
vulnerable
populations,”
the
report
states.
The
analysis
goes
beyond
crops
and
livestock.
The
FAO
notes
that
marine
systems
are
also
being
hit
hard,
yet
losses
in
fisheries
and
aquaculture
often
go
unreported
despite
supporting
500
million
livelihoods.
“Marine
heatwaves
alone
are
estimated
to
have
caused
US$6.6
billion
in
fisheries
losses
from
1985
to
2022,
with
15
percent
of
global
fisheries
affected
and
production
losses
exceeding
5.6
million
tonnes,”
the
report
says.
The
FAO
warns
that
disaster
impacts
are
long-lasting,
calling
for
better
tools
to
measure
both
direct
and
indirect
effects
on
ecosystems,
vulnerable
communities
and
markets.
“Disaster
impacts
on
agriculture
extend
far
beyond
immediate
production
losses
to
include
infrastructure
damage,
market
disruptions,
financial
system
failures
and
ecosystem
service
degradation
that
can
persist
for
years
after
initial
events,”
it
says.
The
report
highlights
the
growing
role
of
technology—including
artificial
intelligence—in
helping
farmers
and
governments
prepare
and
respond.
“Digital
technologies
and
tools
are
revolutionising
risk
monitoring
in
agriculture.
Advanced
analytics
powered
by
artificial
intelligence
(AI)
and
machine
learning
(ML)
now
deliver
integrated
hyperlocal,
real-time
and
actionable
risk
information,”
the
FAO
says.
It
adds
that
digital
systems
can
strengthen
early-warning
mechanisms,
guide
anticipatory
action
and
support
tools
such
as
agricultural
insurance
and
social
protection
programmes.
However,
the
FAO
stresses
that
technology
alone
is
not
enough.
“Digital
transformation
succeeds
when
innovation
is
matched
with
sustained
investment
in
capacity
development,
institutional
strengthening
and
enabling
infrastructure,”
it
says,
adding
that
solutions
must
be
adapted
to
local
needs.
“Digital
solutions
are
most
effective
when
they
are
co-designed
with
the
communities
they
are
supposed
to
serve.
Evidence
shows
that
human-centred
approaches
significantly
boost
adoption.”
The
FAO
also
noted
that
long-term
resilience
will
depend
on
collaboration
and
tailored
approaches.
“Tailoring
tools
to
local
conditions
and
fostering
collaboration
across
government,
research,
the
private
sector,
civil
society,
and
farming
communities
ensures
scalable,
interoperable
and
sustainable
impacts,”
the
report
says.