In 2024, nearly 91 percent of the world's oceans experienced at least one marine heatwave.

Global Food Crisis Risk Rising as Extreme Heat Threatens Crops and Oceans: UN Report

Marine ecosystems, crops and livelihoods are facing escalating pressure as extreme heat reshapes global food production systems, according to a new United Nations assessment.

The report, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization, warns that more than one billion people could be affected as heatwaves become more frequent and prolonged.

In 2024, nearly 91 percent of the world’s oceans experienced at least one marine heatwave, reducing oxygen levels and threatening fish stocks, the assessment said.

Agricultural staples are also under strain. Maize, rice, wheat and soy yields are expected to fall by around six percent for every one-degree rise in global temperatures once key thresholds are exceeded.

Global climate data shows 2025 is likely to rank among the hottest years on record, with rising temperatures acting as a “risk multiplier” that intensifies droughts, wildfires and pest outbreaks across regions.

Morocco has already experienced severe impacts, where repeated droughts and heatwaves have cut cereal production and damaged olive and citrus harvests.

The agencies warned that extreme heat is reducing the safe operating range for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, making production increasingly uncertain in many regions.

They said adaptation measures such as early warning systems and better climate data sharing can help farmers and fishers adjust planting and harvesting cycles, but stressed that long-term mitigation of climate change remains essential to reduce future risks.