Can we monitor climate and food crisis risks in real time?

According to the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), 155 million people in 55 countries and territories in 2020 faced acute food insecurity and were in need of urgent assistance, the highest number since this type of global reporting started. The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was an important driver of the recent surge, conspiring with the structural drivers of food crises -- conflict, economic shocks, and weather extremes. These drivers are mutually reinforcing and are expected to intensify in the coming years. Continued environmental degradation and more intense and frequent weather extremes will put greater pressure on food systems, shock local economies (e.g., through food supply shortages and food price spikes), and increase the risk of conflict over resources. There is thus high risk that many more people will face acute food insecurity in the coming years. The rural poor will be disproportionately affected as they heavily depend on natural assets for their livelihoods.