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Good morning. My mum is a livestock farmer in Kent. This year her hay crop was down by 50% because the spring rains never came. She\u2019s not alone \u2013 up and down the UK, farmers have watched their fields turn brown and their hay crops collapse.<\/p>\n
Hay keeps animals alive over winter (when there is no fresh grass outside) and some farmers are already selling off cows because they can\u2019t guarantee they will be able to feed them. From extreme drought to biblical floods, more than 80% of UK farmers are worried wild swings in weather are affecting their ability to earn a living.<\/p>\n
Globally, farmers are on the frontline of climate change and livelihoods are on the line. Last year, heatwaves wiped out onions in India and cocoa in Ivory Coast. Most recently wildfires and heatwaves have driven losses of olives, citrus fruits and vegetables across Europe.<\/p>\n
Not only is this bad news for farmers, but supply chains are buckling under the pressure, driving an increase in the cost of food for consumers. For today\u2019s newsletter, I spoke to Dr<\/strong><\/em> Maximilian Kotz<\/strong><\/em>, a Marie Curie postdoctoral research fellow at Barcelona Supercomputing Center, about \u201cclimateflation\u201d and how environmental breakdown affects the cost of what we eat. That\u2019s after the headlines.<\/p>\n Israel-Gaza war<\/strong><\/em> | Israel bombed the main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday and then struck the same place again as rescuers and journalists rushed to help the wounded, killing at least 20 people including five journalists, health officials said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n UK news<\/strong><\/em> | Schools will need to give democracy lessons to children from the age of 11 and ask teachers to leave their politics at the classroom door to help prepare for votes at 16, the head of the UK elections watchdog has said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Health<\/strong><\/em> | People using the weight loss jab Mounjaro have been warned against switching to black market sellers or bulk buying after its manufacturer announced the UK will get a significant price rise this autumn.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n US news<\/strong><\/em> | Some national guard units patrolling the US capital at the direction of Donald Trump have started carrying firearms, an escalation of the president\u2019s military deployment that makes good on a directive issued late last week by his defence department.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n UK news<\/strong><\/em> | Ministers are introducing a clearer legal definition of \u201chonour-based\u201d abuse in an attempt to catch more perpetrators and protect women and girls from violence and coercion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n <\/span>A rapeseed field in Shropshire is watered during the hot weather in August.<\/span> Photograph: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images<\/p>\n It has been known for a long time that the amount of food a farmer produces is linked to climate conditions (hence why farmers are usually clued up to the forecast). This is of course natural \u2013 weather fluctuates. However, in recent years temperature extremes have become stronger, and records are being broken across the globe. As a result, a new area of research has started to evolve over the past five-ish years: how the climate crisis is affecting the price of food.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last year or two there have been many widespread examples of this phenomenon playing out,\u201d said Maximilian Kotz. \u201cIt\u2019s something that people are really noticing \u2013 not just researchers who look at the data in detail, but people in the industry, and even consumers, are starting to see these things directly for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n What are the effects of wildfires and heatwaves across Europe?<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all read about wildfires and heatwaves ravaging southern Europe. Not only has this had a devastating impact on people\u2019s lives but it has also having an concerning impact on food, with farmers struggling to grow crops that their forebears did for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n This means the price of traditional Mediterranean produce such as olives, citrus fruits, vegetables and wine are likely to rise. In the UK, long dry spells have also affected the production of cereals, potatoes, carrots and broccoli. Britain\u2019s largest retailers are warning food prices are already being driven up by hot weather.<\/p>\n This is not an isolated year, and crop losses are only set to increase in the coming years as the climate crisis gets worse. In the EU, the average annual loss is expected to increase by up to two-thirds by 2050, according to analysis by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just in Europe where agriculture is being hit. Shrivelled cacao pods and failed harvests caused by extreme temperatures in west Africa have caused an increase in the price of chocolate. Even bananas are not safe \u2013 rising temperatures, extreme weather and climate-related pests are pummelling Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia, where the world\u2019s most popular fruit is grown.<\/p>\n What are some examples of price spikes in recent years?<\/strong><\/p>\n Kotz and his team looked at data from 18 countries to find examples of price spikes associated with extreme weather events.<\/p>\n They found that in 2022, vegetable prices spiked by 80% in Arizona and California after extreme summer drought. In the same year, a drought in the Horn of Africa \u2013 the worst there in 40 years \u2013 resulted in food prices being 40% higher in March the following year.<\/p>\n In 2024, global cocoa prices were 280% higher in April after a heatwave two months prior in Ivory Coast and Ghana (together, these two countries account for 60% of global cacao production). A heatwave in May of the same year caused a 80% increase in the price of onions and potatoes in India.<\/p>\n At its most basic level, this is an issue of supply and demand: if droughts and heat stress destroy crop yields, then prices of that crop go up.<\/p>\n Kotz said: \u201cIt is quite striking that very often the products that are most affected are fresh fruit and vegetable produce. There are obvious reasons why that could be the case \u2013 essentially those are products that are harder to store, and normally they have a shorter time span between production and going to the market.\u201d The impact on the market is amplified as you can\u2019t stockpile perishable produce, whereas grains and rice can be stored to buffer disruption.<\/p>\n How \u2018climateflation\u2019 will change the way we eat<\/strong><\/p>\n The term \u2018climateflation\u2019 refers to the rising cost of living caused by the climate crisis. Fundamentally, disruptions to agriculture have an impact on how much people have to fork out for food. Extreme weather causes short-term price shocks, but hotter average temperatures cause food inflation spikes that can last up to 12 months, according to Kotz\u2019s research from last year. \u201cWe were able to see that we really are going to be expecting persistently higher food prices under future temperature increases,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A report from the Autonomy Institute thinktank found that increasingly extreme weather could drive up food prices by more than a third by 2050 for British consumers.<\/p>\n The cost of living crisis is already squeezing UK household budgets with high food, energy and housing costs, while wages remain stagnant. Food makes up a large share of household spending \u2013 especially in emerging economies. Typically, healthy food (such as fresh fruit and vegetables) is twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy food. Research from the Food Foundation has shown that spending on healthy products is usually where people cut back in times of food price increases, particularly in low-income households.<\/p>\n This could exacerbate a range of health issues, from malnutrition to chronic diet-related conditions including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers. Poor diets have also been linked to poor mental health, according to the Food Foundation. \u201cWe expect this kind of food price inflation induced by climate change would most of all affect the poorest households,\u201d said Kotz. \u201cThat then has many implications long-term for wider societal health.\u201d<\/p>\n The trend with rising food prices is structural, so it will keep building as long as temperatures increase. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the main thing that we can do to reduce these impacts is just to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,\u201d said Kotz. \u201cEven though it\u2019s very obvious, I think it\u2019s always important to bring people\u2019s awareness back to the underlying driver.\u201d<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what\u2019s happening and why it matters<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.<\/span><\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n <\/span>Protesters against the war in Gaza at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, 23 August 2025.<\/span> Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Knesset member Ofer Cassif writes in the Guardian on army reservists refusing to take up arms as Israel\u2019s anti-war movement<\/strong> grows bolder. \u201cIn private talks between family members or in public declarations of objection, more and more Israelis are realising that participating in military service is to be complicit,\u201d he says. Charlie Lindlar, newsletters team<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n An interesting and potentially dangerous case of humans treating wild animals<\/strong> like pets is unfolding in Lyme Bay where Reggie the \u2018friendly\u2019 dolphin is apparently asking people for belly rubs, but also \u201ctrying to drown\u201d female swimmers. Experts say neither is true and Reggie needs his space \u2013 for his own safety as much as anyone else\u2019s. Phoebe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Peter Bradshaw\u2019s look ahead to the best films coming this autumn<\/strong> is a solid way to feel better about the last few weeks of summer. One Battle After Another, the latest from Paul Thomas Anderson, seems like one of those ones where the less you know going in, the better. Charlie<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n The US used to be held up as an example of democracy, but now visitors are being advised to lock down social media, delete photos and even travel with \u2018burner\u2019 phones. This is a bleak look at precautions visitors are having to take to be safe in Trump\u2019s America<\/strong>. Phoebe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n An important investigation from Kate Lloyd for our Is it true that \u2026 <\/strong>series: does eating greasy food really give you spots? Sort of, it turns out. Charlie<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/span>Substitute Rio Ngumoha runs with arms outstretched in celebration after scoring Liverpool\u2019s winner in the 100th minute on his Premier League debut.<\/span> Photograph: Scott Heppell\/Reuters<\/p>\n Football<\/strong><\/em> | Teenage substitute Rio Ngumoha sealed a stunning 3-2 victory for Liverpool after Newcastle had come back from two goals down following Anthony Gordon\u2019s red card.<\/p>\n Tennis<\/strong><\/em> | Venus Williams\u2019 25th US Open singles appearance ended at the first hurdle with defeat to Karol\u00edna Muchov\u00e1 who won 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.<\/p>\n Cycling<\/strong><\/em> | On the morning after Jonas Vingegaard took the leader\u2019s red jersey at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a with a stage win in northern Italy, Team Visma-Lease a Bike said police in Italy are investigating the theft of \u201cseveral bikes\u201d from an equipment truck.<\/p>\n The Guardian<\/strong> splashes on \u201cGlobal condemnation after Israel bombs same Gaza hospital twice\u201d. The Financial Times<\/strong> runs with \u201cWall Street calls for stablecoin rethink as friction with crypto industry builds\u201d. Top story in the Metro<\/strong> is \u201cCrackdown on honour crime\u201d while the Mirror<\/strong> has \u201cSchools racism crisis\u201d. \u201cUK prepares to send 100 small boat arrivals back\u201d \u2013 that\u2019s the Times<\/strong> while the Mail<\/strong> goes with \u201cFarage unveils plan for \u2018mass deportations\u201d adding that the Tories say it was their policy first. In the Telegraph<\/strong>, the Reform UK leader is also setting out his stall on immigration and claims \u201cStarmer \u2018sides with courts over the people\u2019\u201d. \u201cFlexible hours to menopausal women could keep them at work and boost the economy by \u00a31.5bn\u201d \u2013 that\u2019s the top story in the i Paper<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/span> Composite: Guardian Audio<\/p>\n Missing in the Amazon: the journalist and the president \u2013 episode two<\/strong><\/p>\n Revisited:<\/strong> What took the British journalist Dom Phillips from the club nights of the UK dance scene as editor of Mixmag to one of the most remote and dangerous corners of the Amazon rainforest? In 2022, Dom set off on a reporting trip with Bruno Pereira, a Brazilian expert on uncontacted tribes, into the Javari valley to investigate the criminal gangs threatening the region. And then they vanished.<\/p>\n <\/span> Illustration: Ben Jennings\/The Guardian<\/p>\n A bit of good news to remind you that the world\u2019s not all bad<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018My biggest fear wasn\u2019t the singing, but putting myself out there\u2019 \u2026 Louis Staples.<\/span> Photograph: Courtesy of Louis Staples<\/p>\n When Louis Staples first saw the London Gay Men\u2019s Chorus perform in Soho in 2016, little did he know that he would one day be standing alongside them \u2013 let alone on stages as impressive as the Royal Albert Hall and London\u2019s Alexandra Palace.<\/p>\n In this week\u2019s The one change that worked feature, Louis recalls how the group came into his life at a time of post-pandemic need, giving him a much-needed sense of community \u2013 and so much more. Performing with them, he writes, is \u201ca testament to the power of being seen \u2013 and heard <\/em>\u2013 for who you really are\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThese moments have not only helped me to feel less self-conscious,\u201d he says. \u201cBut they have also taught me that the things that bring us joy are never frivolous.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n And finally, the Guardian\u2019s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Good morning. My mum is a livestock farmer in Kent. This year her hay crop was down by 50% because the spring rains never came. She\u2019s not alone \u2013 up and down the UK, farmers have watched their fields turn brown and their hay crops collapse. Hay keeps animals alive over winter (when there is<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[1043,3215,186,10854,187,9687,1725,495,269,7794,6538],"class_list":{"0":"post-17871","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-briefing","9":"tag-changing","10":"tag-climate","11":"tag-climateflation","12":"tag-crisis","13":"tag-eat","14":"tag-food","15":"tag-higher","16":"tag-prices","17":"tag-pushing","18":"tag-tuesday"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Five big stories<\/h2>\n
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In depth: \u2018Consumers are starting to see these things directly for themselves\u2019<\/h2>\n
What else we\u2019ve been reading<\/h2>\n
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Sport<\/h2>\n
The front pages<\/h2>\n
Today in Focus<\/h2>\n
Cartoon of the day | Ben Jennings<\/h2>\n
The Upside<\/h2>\n
Bored at work?<\/h2>\n