Flash floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have turned farms into waterlogged disaster zones, claiming over 12,600 hogs and 429,000 poultry in what industry groups call a 'catastrophic blow' to one of the world’s top food-exporting regions. 🚨
When Rain Reigns Disaster
Imagine entire towns submerged – that’s the reality for farmers here. Local hog lobby ACSURS reports 30 farms flooded, impacting suppliers to meat giants BRF and JBS. Meanwhile, poultry group ASGAV calculates losses at $35.8 million, with four processing plants halted and roads blocked by landslides.
The Ripple Effect 🌍
Why should your burger cost more? This state supplies 24% of Brazil’s pork exports and 16% of chicken exports. With the key port of Rio Grande disrupted, global meat supplies could feel the pinch. 🌎🍔
Survival Mode
Beyond immediate deaths, surviving animals face starvation. 'Feed factories are underwater,' says ASGAV, forcing farmers to ration food. One BRF-linked plant processing 3,000 hogs daily saw 60% of its suppliers’ livestock wiped out.
As climate extremes rewrite farming rules, this disaster highlights how interconnected – and vulnerable – our global food systems truly are. 🌦️⚡
