El Nino's Impact on Global Food System Mitigated by Advances and Inventories

The global food system is better equipped to handle this year's El Nino weather phenomenon than it was in past decades, according to experts. Near-record inventories, technological advances, and the emergence of key exporters like Brazil and Russia have made the system more resilient.

World farm production has outpaced consumption and population growth since the 1980s, driven by higher-yielding crop varieties, increased use of fertilizers, and improved irrigation and crop protection. This has led to increased yields of staples such as rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Andrew Whitelaw of Australian agricultural consultancy Episode 3 notes that even during drought conditions, better irrigation management and crop science allow for marketable yields. The potential impact on global food supplies and prices still exists, but the disruptions are less severe than they would have been in previous decades.