Tomato prices soar by 700%, with frequent extreme weather worldwide: prices of various agricultural products skyrocket
In recent times, extreme weather has occurred frequently worldwide, leading to an increase in crop diseases and pests. As a result, prices of agricultural products such as cocoa and tomatoes have skyrocketed.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, plant diseases caused by different pathogens and environmental factors have caused annual losses to the global economy exceeding $220 billion, while invasive insects have caused losses of at least $70 billion.
Leia Buchmann, an entomologist at Georgetown University, said that pests are easily adapted to changing climates. In warm temperatures, pests can reproduce and migrate faster, which can impact crop yields.
![Tomato prices soar by 700%, with frequent extreme weather worldwide: prices of various agricultural products skyrocket](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/d1858846f977818de056c66431b9b81c.png)
Focus on a few crops.
cocoa
West Africa accounts for two-thirds of the global cocoa supply, and in recent seasons, poor local harvests have led to a surge in wholesale cocoa prices this year, approaching historical highs.
![Tomato prices soar by 700%, with frequent extreme weather worldwide: prices of various agricultural products skyrocket](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/6177bec0b5f36ed6c74bd7da35cbb8ac.png)
Two diseases seriously affect yield, the first being black pod disease. This is a disease caused by fungal like organisms, which quickly infect cocoa pods in humid environments, turning them black or brown. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, black pod disease has caused damage to up to 30% of annual cocoa production.
Next is the cocoa swelling branch virus. It spreads through whiteflies that feed on cocoa plant sap, significantly reducing crop yield and ultimately killing plants. Steve, the head of the Center for Tropical Research Services in the United States, said that approximately 20% of cocoa crops in Ivory Coast, West Africa, are infected with the Cocoa Blossom Branch Virus.
tomato
![Tomato prices soar by 700%, with frequent extreme weather worldwide: prices of various agricultural products skyrocket](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/073246489bf9c7fa4883e2084f7460a4.png)
Last month, the price of Indian tomatoes soared by 700%, sparking heated discussions. In addition to extreme weather, the hundreds of plant viruses transmitted by the silver leaf whitefly are also important factors, which can also affect the yield of cassava, beans, and sweet potatoes.
olive oil
Olive oil is also worth noting. According to reports, at least 20 million out of 150 million olive trees in Italy are infected with Trichoderma harzianum, most of which are located in the southern region of Pria, which once accounted for 50% of Italy's total annual olive oil production. The European Commission also stated that the harsh cultivation of Trichoderma may result in a loss of 5.5 billion euros for the EU.
![Tomato prices soar by 700%, with frequent extreme weather worldwide: prices of various agricultural products skyrocket](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/b51d6830779b23f7058d1308537df34e.png)
citrus
This month, US orange juice futures hit a new high. One of the factors driving up prices is that orange tree growers in Brazil and the United States are dealing with citrus yellow dragon disease, which is spread by Asian citrus psyllid. According to data from the Brazilian Citrus Conservation Fund, nearly a quarter of orange trees in the western states of S ã o Paulo and Minas Gerais in Brazil suffer from this disease. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation stated that the average temperature rise in some areas of the country's citrus producing areas may be conducive to the spread of bacteria carrying insects.