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More frequent, intense, and longer heatwaves increase risks for crops, livestock, fisheries, water, and rural workers, pressuring agricultural productivity and making adaptation an urgent necessity in the field
Extreme heat has become a turning point in agriculture, with more frequent, intense, and longer heatwaves in the last 50 years, affecting crops, animals, fisheries, forests, and the livelihoods of millions.
Extreme heat becomes a new critical condition
Agriculture has always faced difficult conditions, but the current scenario no longer fits the idea of a natural cycle. Heat no longer appears as an isolated problem and has begun to affect the foundation of the agricultural system.
A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization points to a significant increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves over five decades.
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This advance means more than days of unbearable temperatures. It also represents prolonged periods of intense heat, capable of reducing agricultural productivity and making planning in the field difficult.
A risk multiplier in the agri-food system
Extreme heat acts as a risk multiplier. It exacerbates already known problems, such as droughts, pests, fires, and water stress, forming combinations that hinder agricultural production.
This effect is not limited to crops. Livestock, fisheries, and forests also suffer impacts, with consequences for production and for millions of people who depend on the agri-food sector.
In agronomic terms, heat begins to cause losses when critical limits are exceeded.
Many crops reduce productivity above 30°C, while barley and potatoes appear as sensitive examples.
Livestock and labor also enter alert
In livestock, the situation is concerning. Thermal stress can begin from 25°C, impairing food intake, reproduction, and milk or meat production.
Pigs and poultry are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, as they cannot effectively regulate their body temperature. This increases pressure on production systems.
Extreme heat also affects rural workers. In some regions, days when work becomes impossible due to high temperatures may increase, affecting agricultural productivity.
Water, sudden droughts, and fisheries under pressure
In a phase where every drop of water counts, heat exacerbates the scenario by increasing evaporation and reducing water availability. This combination can lead to sudden droughts, with little reaction time.
High temperatures threaten aquatic ecosystems. Warming reduces oxygen levels in the water, which can cause fish mortality and affect fisheries and food security in various regions.
The impact reaches the food chain. Fields, animals, water, workers, and fish production begin to feel the effects of a harsher and more persistent condition.
Adaptation is no longer a choice in the field
Adapting to extreme heat has become a necessity. The first decision involves choosing crops and varieties more tolerant to high temperatures, as this choice can define the success of the harvest.
The agricultural calendar also gains importance. Shifting planting dates by days or weeks can prevent the crop from going through its most vulnerable phase at the peak of heat.
In management, there are no magic solutions, but there are useful practices. Covering the soil, improving irrigation, and creating shade reduce thermal stress in the crop, offering flexibility to protect the harvest.
Weather alerts change the way of working. With information, producers can anticipate events and avoid late responses to waves.
Financial support can define permanence
Not everyone can adapt at the same pace. Insurance, support, and financing become decisive because adaptation has a cost and can separate those who manage to continue producing from those who abandon the activity.
Agriculture operates under high pressure, and repeating practices from recent years is no longer sufficient. Production will not disappear tomorrow, but the signs indicate high demands without a change of course.
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