In 2023, a new United Nations report reveals that violent weather, made worse by climate change, has really ramped up hunger and food insecurity across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The extreme weather events in the region have pushed crop prices higher, hitting several countries hard. This report, put together by various UN agencies, including the World Food Program (WFP), highlights how things like scorching heat and drought—made even more intense by the El Niño phenomenon—have skyrocketed corn prices in places like Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, heavy rains in Ecuador led to a whopping 32 to 54 percent spike in wholesale prices.
While the report does acknowledge that social safety nets have helped reduce undernourishment across Latin America, it also points out that the poorest and most vulnerable populations, especially those in rural areas, are still facing significant food insecurity due to climate change.
“The shocks are getting much more extreme,” said Lola Castro, the WFP’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This is what’s creating larger food insecurity and under-nutrition.”
The report refers to a 2020 study showing that 36% of 439 small farms in rural Honduras and Guatemala dealt with “episodic food insecurity due to extreme weather events.”
Ivy Blackmore, a researcher from the University of Missouri who studied nutrition and agriculture among Indigenous farming communities in Ecuador, explained, “In more rural areas, they don’t have a lot of resources to weather a poor harvest.”
When times are tough, “You don’t generate as much income. There’s not as much nutritious food around, so they sell what they can, and then they purchase the cheapest thing that’ll fill them up,” she added.
In the communities she examined, ongoing erosion from heavy rains forced farmers to start planting on untouched grassland nearby. It’s a tough situation, and these communities are doing their best to navigate it.
“They might have a few good harvests, but then the erosion kicks in and they have to dig deeper,” Blackmore explained. “There’s some serious erosion happening because they’re just trying to get by in the short term, without really tackling the bigger, long-term issues.”
A push for drought-resistant crops
With extreme weather driving up food prices, many folks are turning to cheaper, ultra-processed foods that aren’t great for their health. This is especially concerning in Latin America, where the UN report highlights that “the cost of healthy diets is the highest in the world,” and we’ve seen a big jump in obesity rates for both kids and adults since 2000.
One potential solution could be going back to the region’s traditional foods, like quinoa and hearty root veggies such as mashua and melloco. Not only are these options healthier, but they might also better withstand the impacts of climate change.
“Many Andean grains are super drought-resistant,” Castro noted. “We’re teaming up with smallholder farmers, especially those from indigenous communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, to bring these amazing foods back to our plates.”
In some areas, these traditional foods are already making a comeback. “Terrace farming in the Andes is incredibly resilient,” shared Carlos Andres Gallego-Riofrío, a research assistant professor at the University of Vermont. “It keeps the moisture in and the soil fertile.”
Take Caliata, for example. This farming community in central Ecuador has surprisingly low rates of chronic disease, even though it’s just 14 kilometers away from the city. It’s a testament to how embracing traditional practices can lead to healthier lives.
“They could totally snag a Coca-Cola if they wanted to,” Gallego-Riofrío noted. “Or pick up any of those super processed snacks at the store. But honestly, we hardly see that in what they eat.” In Caliata, most of the food comes straight from local families—think tubers, beans, barley, and fresh fruit, rather than stuff you find packed on a grocery store shelf. And when it comes to meat, guinea pig is the star of the show, enjoyed for both its flavor and its health benefits.
“In the Andean traditional way of life, there’s so much wisdom to tap into,” Gallego-Riofrío wrapped up. “If we could share that knowledge with other communities, we’d see amazing improvements in both ecosystem health and people’s well-being.”