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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A UN report highlights how climate change and extreme weather, intensified by El Niño, disrupted food systems across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023
• Droughts and heavy rains caused significant crop price spikes, while the region's poorest populations remain the most affected by food insecurity
🔭 The context: Corn prices rose in Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic due to drought, while Ecuador saw a 32–54% hike in wholesale food prices after severe rains
• The cost of healthy diets in Latin America is the highest worldwide, leading many to resort to cheaper, ultra-processed foods that worsen health outcomes
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate change is exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition, threatening both human health and rural livelihoods
• Reviving traditional, drought-resistant crops like quinoa and Andean tubers could bolster food resilience and sustainability in vulnerable communities
⏭️ What's next: The UN and researchers are working with smallholder farmers to reintroduce traditional crops and resilient farming techniques
• These initiatives aim to mitigate climate impacts while improving food security and health across the region
💬 One quote: “The shocks are getting much more extreme… creating larger food insecurity and under-nutrition.” – Lola Castro, WFP Regional Director
📈 One stat: In 2020, 36% of 439 small farms in Honduras and Guatemala experienced food insecurity due to extreme weather events
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