Record El Nino Threatens Asia with Drought, Global Food Prices Rise

Experts warn that a record-breaking El Nino could trigger severe droughts in Asia, potentially driving up global food prices and threatening millions of peop...

Editorial Desk

September 22, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Banten, Indonesia — A record-breaking El Nino is expected to bring severe droughts to Asia, raising concerns about food security and global food prices. The phenomenon, part of a natural climate cycle, has already begun to impact water supplies, fisheries, and agriculture across the region.

El Nino, characterized by warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures, is forecast to peak in December and could be the strongest in living memory. This year’s event is already causing wildfires, depleting reservoirs, and disrupting fish catches, with significant implications for food production in Southeast Asia.

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Asian governments, already dealing with energy crises linked to the Iran war, face additional challenges as El Nino intensifies. Experts warn that the drought could push millions into acute food insecurity and significantly raise global food commodity prices, according to the United Nations’ World Food Program.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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