The UK's climate minister, Katie White, has warned that the global food system is exposed to El Niño events, which can bring extreme weather capable of damaging harvests in multiple regions at once. In an interview with New Scientist, she said the answer lies in shifting toward more local food production rather than relying on stockpiles.
White's comments point to a structural vulnerability: because food supply chains are globalised, a climate shock in one major growing area can ripple through the entire system. She argues that building resilience means shortening supply chains and increasing production closer to consumers.
The interview does not set out specific policy proposals, but the framing contrasts with emergency measures such as grain reserves. White's position is that prevention through localisation is preferable to coping with shortages after the fact.