Climate emergency and the food system: the impact of May floods on the community food environment of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the May 2024 floods on the community food environment of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brasil. This is an ecological study in the 92 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul State that had at least one establishment that sells food affected by the floods. The geographic data on the flooding were extracted from the database of the Institute of Hydraulic Research of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and the information on food establishments was obtained from the database of the Special Secretariat of the Federal Revenue of Brazil (year 2022). Proportions of groups/categories of affected establishments were calculated and compared using Pearson’s chi-square test. Of the total number of establishments in the municipalities, 15.7% were located in the flooded area. In addition, 11 cities had more than 40% of their businesses flooded. Regarding the proportion of affected establishments in relation to the total number of establishments in each group/category of establishments, the group of establishments that sell in natura or minimally processed foods (17.1%) was the most affected (p < 0.0001); and fishmongers (28.5%) and restaurants (17.6%) were the most affected categories of in natura or minimally processed and mixed groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, a major impact of the floods on the food trade in Rio Grande do Sul State was observed, especially in establishments that sell in natura or minimally processed foods, denoting the importance of monitoring the reestablishment of the community food environment over time to ensure food security for the population.