Climate Extremes Causing Severe Food Security Issues: World Bank

The World Bank has stated that food shortages and climate extremes are leading to serious food security challenges worldwide. In particular, low-income countries are experiencing rising food prices, with 79% of these nations seeing food prices increase by more than 5%.

According to the latest World Bank report on food security, data from November 2024 to February 2025 shows that food prices have risen by more than 5% in 79% of low-income countries.

The report further highlights that food prices have declined in 50 middle-income and 10.9 high-income countries. Prices of agricultural commodities, grains, and export indicators have dropped by 8%, 4%, and 11%, respectively. Corn and wheat prices have decreased by 3%, while rice prices have fallen by 7%.

In response, the World Bank has expanded its food security initiatives across 90 countries. These efforts include immediate support through social protection programs, boosting agricultural production, and developing long-term climate-resilient strategies.

According to the report, these World Bank initiatives are expected to benefit 296 million people.

The World Bank has also emphasized the need to promote nature-based solutions in agriculture. A recent blog post highlighted 60 years of continuous agricultural growth driven by increased production of maize, rice, soybeans, and wheat. However, it also warned of potential slowdowns in production in the future.

The report underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between the World Bank and other international organizations to address the global food security crisis.