Heat and agriculture

Hot temperatures can overwhelm bees’ natural cooling systems.

Storms, floods, heat, and droughts hit hardest those who have the least.  When the soil cracks and the rivers dry, work disappears. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one drought can wipe out 900,000 jobs in a year — and with them, years of progress. 

The frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events have risen sharply over the past half century, with worrying impacts on agrifood systems and landscapes, according to this report.

Extreme heat events threaten the livelihoods, health and labour productivity of over a billion people. Agricultural workers and agrifood systems are on the frontlines.

AI and drones are being used to identify climate-resilient wheat varieties that balance high yields with climate stability.

The State of the Climate Kenya 2025 report shows how rising temperatures and uneven rainfall are already affecting Kenya’s agriculture, water, health, and livelihoods, while warning of higher climate risks in 2026.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension recently completed installation of an advanced weather station in Orono, the third such station in a network of research-grade weather stations designed specifically for agriculture.

Climate change is increasing extreme heat in major coffee-growing regions, adding harmful high-temperature days that threaten global coffee yields, quality, and prices.