A staple grain feeding billions, seed of Oryza sativa (Asian rice)
Rains have kept Brahmaputra and other rivers above danger levels in Assam, displacing hundreds of thousands and submerging farmland. Relief camps are operating as authorities assess damage and plan payouts amid mounting health and food security concerns.
A set of recent reports shows farmers adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather through drought-tolerant crops, smarter irrigation, and climate-smart farming. From Wales and Scotland to Africa and East Africa, communities are expanding local cultivation, improving soil health, and building resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
Scotland's government has launched a formal consultation on legally capping prices for a basket of essential food items, including milk, eggs and rice. Ministers say the measure aims to ease cost pressures for families, while critics warn it could displace costs to producers and raise questions about legality under UK rules.
The BBC, Independent, and other outlets report on Scotland’s price-cap measures for essentials and public transport, amid fears from farmers that costs could ripple through to producers. Pilot schemes show rising bus ridership, but warn of unintended consequences as caps expand.
France has recorded a sharply reduced 2026 grape harvest after an exceptionally hot, dry summer pushed harvests earlier and cut yields. Champagne production has fallen by about half and regulators have temporarily allowed some 2026 bubbly to reach 15% alcohol after sugar levels rose in sun‑stressed grapes. The agriculture ministry has estimated total output near 33.9m hectolitres.
Independent and Reuters reports show UK food inflation remains elevated amid geopolitical disruption, drought and energy costs. Forecasts wait on official data; producers urge relief to ease rising bills for households.
Inflation has climbed to 3.1% in August, driven by higher fuel prices and airfares, with energy bills expected to push prices higher in October. The ONS notes some items cooled, but the trend points to further gains in the months ahead as energy pressures persist.