"Kellogg's has stopped using rice grains in Rice Krispies and Coco Pops in the UK due to "changing weather conditions" that have disrupted supplies.
Crops have been hit by dry weather in key producing countries in Asia, reducing harvests and driving up prices."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqvg0y44ym7vo
Bit of a canary in the coalmine moment there, rice makes a much bigger contribution to a lot of people's diets than in the form of breakfast cereal.
Replying to @afewbugs@social.coop
@afewbugs yeh, it's been going on for years.
India stopped shipping rice for a while, Japan has cut exports, Thailand threatened a complete ban on exports, and Vietnam have reduced exports. A mix of heavy exporters, and premium product exporters.
As a heavy rice eater, it's become difficult to get certain varieties (sona masouri is like gold these days), and others (all the Japanese) have near quadrupled in price
Replying to @jess@blop.social
Governments in ESEA countries are (unsurprisingly) aware of this and have been building up stockpiles (Japan also has been stockpiling rice), the Environment Ministries are also encouraging development of drought-resistant strains
If I remember when I am in the office later I will ask one of my colleagues from Malaysia if she has heard of any domestic shortages..
www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1503925/malaysias-physical-rice-stocks-sufficient-six-months
