Global analysis of countries’ exposure to climate driven simultaneous staple crop failures

Abstract The extent to which import-reliant countries may be vulnerable to co-occurring – and geographically distal – climate disruptions in crop production remains poorly understood. By analysing weather variability and covariation in staple food crop production across 181 countries, we identify the countries most exposed to simultaneous crop failures across their import partners and from their domestic production. Results indicate that over half of countries importing maize, wheat or rice are identified as at risk of their top three suppliers experiencing simultaneous crop failures.