Latin America and the Caribbean face mounting risks to food security as climate change intensifies, with the region now second only to Asia in its exposure to extreme weather events, according to a joint report by UN agencies.

The 2024 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition reveals stark evidence of climate impacts, with drought and hot weather, compounded by El Niño, driving up corn prices in Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. In Ecuador, heavy rains triggered wholesale price increases of up to 54 per cent last year.

Nearly three-quarters of countries in the region confront frequent extreme weather events, with more than half considered vulnerable to increased undernourishment due to climate pressures. Between 2019 and 2023, countries affected by climate variability and extremes saw undernourishment rise by 1.5 percentage points.

The impact has been particularly severe in rural areas. A 2020 study found that 36 per cent of 439 small farms surveyed in rural Honduras and Guatemala experienced "episodic food insecurity due to extreme weather events".

These environmental issues are exacerbating existing structural problems, including high levels of inequality and limited access to affordable healthy diets. In the Caribbean, half the population cannot afford a nutritious diet, while in both Central and South America, the figure stands at about 26 per cent.

"Climate shocks are making it increasingly difficult for families across Latin America and the Caribbean to produce, transport, and access food. Frequent storms and floods are destroying homes and farmland, while drought and erratic rainfall are wiping out crops before they can grow," said Lola Castro, WFP's Regional Director.

As extreme weather drives up food prices, consumers are increasingly turning to cheaper, ultra-processed foods - a concerning trend in a region where healthy diets are already the most expensive in the world and obesity rates have risen markedly since 2000.

However, traditional farming methods may offer some resilience. Andean terrace farming has proven particularly effective at retaining moisture and soil fertility, while traditional crops such as quinoa and tuberous root vegetables demonstrate strong drought resistance. UN agencies are working with smallholder farmers and indigenous populations to revive these traditional food systems.

Despite these pressures, the region has shown some progress. The number of people experiencing hunger dropped to 41mn in 2023 – a decrease of 2.9mn from the previous year. This improvement is largely attributed to economic recovery in several South American countries, supported by social protection programmes and targeted policies to enhance food access.

Still, UN agencies warn that without accelerated action to build resilience within agrifood systems, these gains could be quickly reversed by intensifying climate impacts. The Caribbean subregion already shows concerning trends, with hunger prevalence increasing to 17.2 per cent over the past two years.

The gender dimension of food insecurity adds another layer of complexity. The report notes that the gender gap in food security across Latin America and the Caribbean exceeds the global average, with women bearing a disproportionate burden of climate-related food challenges.

These findings underscore the urgent need for investment in climate adaptation, particularly in rural areas. Key recommendations include improving access to climate information systems, developing sustainable agricultural practices, and expanding financial products to help small-scale producers cope with extreme events.

The report notes that ensuring long-term food security will require comprehensive measures to strengthen the region's capacity to anticipate, prevent and adapt to climate challenges. This includes not only technical solutions but also addressing underlying inequalities that make certain populations more vulnerable to global warming's impacts.

The study, jointly published by five UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme, concludes that while significant progress has been made in curbing hunger, the escalating climate crisis threatens to undermine these gains in one of the world's most environmentally exposed regions.