Food prices worldwide continue to rise as climate change increasingly drives persistent inflation across key commodities, according to a recent analysis by Zero Carbon Analytics, an international research organization. The firm tracked food price fluctuations from 2022 to 2026, linking nearly all significant increases this year to extreme weather events intensified by climate change, such as unprecedented heat, drought, and rainfall. The only exception was a winter storm that caused a sharp rise in tomato prices but was not attributed to climate-related factors.

This emerging phenomenon, sometimes termed “climateflation,” reflects a sustained increase in everyday living costs connected to both fossil fuel dependency and the growing frequency of destructive weather patterns, said Joanne Bentley-McKune, lead author and climate scientist at Zero Carbon Analytics. The study highlights 2026 as a particularly challenging year for global agriculture, with extreme weather compounding disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions that have affected trade routes in the Middle East and the Black Sea, further driving input costs higher.

The report points to an intensifying “super” El Niño event expected to exacerbate risks to global food supplies through 2027. Prices of staple crops such as wheat, corn, cocoa, and sugar have already climbed, pushing the United Nations food-commodity index to its highest point in nearly four years by August. The analysts warn that even countries traditionally self-sufficient in critical crops may face inflationary pressures as local yields decline and global markets become more volatile.

In Europe, record-breaking heatwaves this summer damaged significant agricultural regions. Southwestern France recorded temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), while the U.K. experienced its hottest June on record. Human-induced climate change made the dry conditions behind crop losses up to 11 times more likely in Eastern Europe, according to scientists at World Weather Attribution. France’s corn harvest is expected to be the smallest since at least 1980, driving a 16% increase in consumer prices. Furthermore, the rise in corn prices also impacts animal feed costs, affecting meat and dairy production. Prices for vegetables such as zucchini, tomatoes, and green beans have surged by 32%, 31%, and nearly 25%, respectively.

In the United States, beef prices hit record levels in April amid the smallest cattle herd in 75 years, partly due to drought and heat stress worsened by a regional outbreak of the New World screwworm parasite. The West and Great Plains endured the nation’s hottest March on record, which depleted snowpack vital for water supply and forage. These factors forced many ranchers to reduce their herds earlier than usual, contributing to a near 15% year-on-year increase in beef prices.

Tomato growers faced distinct climate pressures on both sides of the Atlantic. In Spain, unusually heavy rainfall early in the year, followed by drought and wildfires during the summer, led to an 11% price increase. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the February winter storm Gianna brought rare cold and snowfall to Florida, damaging tomato crops and causing a 40% surge in prices between January and April.

Marine food sources have also been impacted. In 2025, sea surface temperatures near Japan reached record highs in October, threatening seaweed cultivation—a staple in various Asian cuisines. Prices for nori, used widely in sushi, rose roughly 20% by March 2026.

The findings emphasize that inflating costs in a select group of foods—including butter, beef, milk, coffee, and chocolate—account for a substantial portion of overall food price inflation in countries like the U.K. Moreover, extreme weather’s influence on the yield of fruits, vegetables, and protein staples raises concerns over the nutritional quality and diversity of diets globally.

Projections suggest climate change could add over three percentage points annually to food inflation by 2035, with a corresponding increase to general inflation rates beyond many nations’ targets. The analysts argue that conventional economic responses, such as interest rate hikes, are insufficient to address the underlying agricultural yield declines or to shield vulnerable populations from the financial impact of climate-induced food price pressures.