Amazon Deforest iStock cropped
2010 Russian Heat Wave
¥Fallout
¥In 2009, the Black Sea region contributed roughly ¼ of world wheat exports, but Russia has banned grain exports entirely through mid-2011
¥Heat and drought decimated grass and hay growth, prompting the government to release 3 million tons of grain to supplement cattle feed; still, farmers have had to cull herds
¥World wheat prices increase 60% over 2 months
¥Situation
¥Average Moscow July temperature: 14¡F above norm
¥Number of fires starting every day in early August: 300-400
¥Forest damage and restoration cost estimate: $300 billion
¥Total death count from heat wave and air pollution: >56,000
¥Drop in the Russian grain harvest: down 40% to 60 million tons from recent annual harvests of 100 million tons
¥
Photo Credit: iStockPhoto / Brasil2
The Russian heat wave is a powerful example of how a single event can quickly destabilize the global food economy.