{
  "id": 543102,
  "title": "Analysis-Decades of farm gains, inventories strengthen food system against ’super’ El Nino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/analysis-decades-of-farm-gains-inventories-strengthen-food-system",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-11T07:36:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/analysisdecades-of-farm-gains-inventories-strengthen-food-system-against-super-el-nino-4850856"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Near-record grain inventories, technological advances, and the rise of key exporters have bolstered the global food system's resilience against this year's \"super\" El Nino, according to a Reuters analysis. Since the 1980s, world farm production has outpaced consumption and population growth, driven by higher-yielding crop varieties, increased use of fertilizers, and improved irrigation and crop protection. Even during drought, better irrigation management and crop science allow for marketable yields, says Andrew Whitelaw of Australian agricultural consultancy Episode 3.\n\nWhile the potential impact on global food supplies and prices exists, the improved preparedness means disruptions are less severe than in previous decades. El Nino has already disrupted crop planting in Asia, including India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, while a fertiliser shortage due to the Iran war adds to global food production risks. India is facing a deficient monsoon season, and drought is affecting crops in key wheat-growing regions in Australia and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Thailand.\n\nThe outlook could worsen as the El Nino is expected to intensify in the fourth quarter and early next year. An already strong El Nino will likely be the strongest on record, with potentially severe impacts on crop production and food prices. However, near-record grain inventories, drought-tolerant seeds, better weather forecasting, precision agriculture, improved irrigation, and the emergence of new export powerhouses like Brazil and Russia are poised to cushion the fallout.\n\nIn India, sowing has kept on track despite an initial lag, but rains in August and September will be crucial for maturity and grain formation. India holds nearly half of the world's rice stocks, and China holds nearly half of the global wheat stocks, providing reserves to help curb import demand if drought impacts production in key supplier countries. Global palm oil stocks are near historic highs, and the emergence of new export hubs like Brazil, which has become the world's biggest soybean supplier, has added significant supplies to global markets.\n\nResearchers have evolved drought-tolerant corn hybrids widely adopted across Africa and the Americas since 2015, and heat- and drought-tolerant wheat varieties have gained ground in India and Australia. Short-duration rice varieties and advanced digital tools, such as satellite-based crop monitoring and GPS-guided fertiliser application, have helped farmers cope with increasingly erratic monsoon rains and water and heat stress. However, wars in the Middle East and the Black Sea region may temper some optimism, as the Strait of Hormuz crisis and higher fertiliser prices have reduced the use of agricultural inputs.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Near-record grain inventories bolster food system resilience against super El Nino",
    "Technological advances and key exporters enhance global food system preparedness"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The global food system's decades-long gains in production, technology, and export capacity have bolstered its resilience against severe El Nino events, enabling it to better withstand disruptions and price shocks.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}