Top climate-driven health risks for food and agriculture workers TABLE 2 Vector-borne diseases Agricultural field workers are at an increased risk of vector-borne disease, as post-drought irrigation or excess rainfall creates stagnant water pools, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.Zoonoses Farmers are at a greater risk of contracting zoonoses due to close contact with wild and farmed animals and their waste. Food processors are also at greater risk due to exposure to animal products.Malnutrition Subsistence farmers are at greater risk of malnutrition as they are more dependent on their own (or highly localized) crop yields, which are increasingly volatile due to climate change. Heat-related illness Both outdoor field workers and indoor food-processing workers are at risk from extreme heat, given the lack of adequate cooling or ventilation. The agricultural sector is expected to account for 60% of global working hours lost to heat stress in 2030.22Respiratory illness Farmers and transporters are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses due to exposure to pesticides and particulates, including dust from dry soils and mould spores. These illnesses are exacerbated by extreme weather events that contribute to worsening air pollution. These challenges are magnified for smallholder farmers, who manage 84% of the world’s farms23 and represent 500 million households globally.24 Typically operating without adequate labour protections, health systems, technical training or modern equipment, subsistence and smallholder farmers face heightened risks from extreme heat, vector-borne diseases and declining crop yields. They are susceptible to a vicious cycle: poor health lowers productivity, leading to food insecurity and income loss, which in turn worsens health outcomes. Breaking this cycle requires targeted investment in health infrastructure and education to build a resilient farming system. Proactive companies have a clear opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by developing products and services that align with shifting customer needs. Processors that can maintain consistent, high-volume production will be able to command premium prices, secure favourable contracts and build stronger relationships with buyers seeking supply reliability. Nutrient-dense crops can attract a larger share of the global market. Meanwhile, reducing food waste (currently about 25% of produce25) can increase availability while boosting revenue and reducing emissions. This analysis (based on seven key climate-related health conditions) shows that lost worker availability in the food and agriculture sector caused by select climate change-driven health risks is expected to amount to at least $740 billion from 2025 to 2050 (see Annex for methodology). Rising worker illness rates reduce worker productivity. Labour shortages in agriculture are particularly costly, as tasks like harvesting are time-sensitive. During the peak season in Nigeria, for example, malaria-infected farmers harvest only roughly 40% of their crops, compared to nearly 100% for healthy farmers.26 Worsening worker health and disease outbreaks disrupt supply chains by reducing labour availability and restricting transport and trade. Downstream industries like processing and retail are especially vulnerable to supply shocks as they rely on just-in-time inventory systems, face perishable product losses and experience higher consumer demand volatility. 3.3 Economic impact Lost worker availability in the food and agriculture sector caused by climate change-driven health risks is expected to amount to at least $740 billion from 2025 to 2050. Building Economic Resilience to the Health Impacts of Climate Change 17

Building Economic Resilience to the Health Impacts of Climate Change 2025