DUBAI: The Middle East is one of the most vulnerable places to extreme heat, which is turning into a defining problem for food production worldwide. Rising temperatures are no longer a seasonal problem but rather a structural hazard to food systems, endangering the livelihoods of over 1.23 billion people, according to a joint report from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization.
According to the paper, heat is a “risk multiplier,” making drought, water scarcity, and crop losses worse while putting more strain on farmers and rural laborers.
The effects on agriculture are already apparent. The FAO-WMO report states that when temperatures rise over about 30°C, crop output drastically decreases, and heat stress limits the amount of time agricultural laborers can work safely outside.
In certain instances, working conditions are becoming dangerous for a significant portion of the year, which raises concerns about yields as well as the long-term sustainability of farming in hot climates. These demands are especially severe for Saudi Arabia, where summer temperatures frequently surpass 45°C and water supplies are severely scarce.
Although the Kingdom has long struggled with the limitations of dry agriculture, growing temperatures are hastening the transition to climate-resilient farming, enhanced water efficiency, and controlled-environment production.
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