Climate change fuels devastating locust outbreaks

Since early 2020, East Africa has been grappling with what experts describe as the worst desert locust outbreak in decades. Swarms have devastated crops, threatening food security for millions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and beyond. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that the problem may worsen as new breeding cycles fuel fresh infestations. Yet, this crisis is far more than a pest problem—it is tightly interwoven with climate change, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, and ecological dynamics.

Fanning the flames of locust infestations

Desert locusts typically reside in arid regions with sparse rainfall, their populations ebbing during “quiet” periods through natural mortality and migration. However, in the past decade, East Africa and surrounding regions have experienced unusually warm temperatures—the hottest since the industrial revolution—and unprecedented rainfall patterns. Between October and December 2019, some areas saw up to 400% above average rainfall, driven by a climate phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole, itself intensified by global warming.

This combination of heat and moisture creates near-perfect breeding conditions for locusts, allowing their numbers to explode. Africa, home to 20 of the fastest-warming countries globally, is disproportionately affected. This sets the stage for recurring, severe outbreaks that ripple across food systems, livelihoods, and economies.

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Strategies and challenges

Traditional locust control relies heavily on chemical pesticides sprayed from vehicles and aircraft. However, these methods carry environmental risks, harming beneficial insects like pollinators essential to crop production. New research is exploring biological controls and less toxic options, yet the rapid movement of locust swarms complicates natural predation.

Meanwhile, United Nations agencies coordinate multi-sector responses: the World Meteorological Organization forecasts weather that influences locust breeding; WHO assesses chemical risks; FAO monitors swarms and warns vulnerable countries; and UNEP promotes climate resilience strategies. For instance, deploying solar dryers allows farmers to preserve harvests and buffer against sudden crop losses due to locust attacks—turning a climate challenge into an opportunity for sustainable enterprise.

More than just a plague

While locusts are notorious crop destroyers—infamously one of the biblical “ten plagues”—they also hold an ecological role, particularly in southern Africa. Species like the brown locust, red locust, and African migratory locust have outbreak cycles roughly every 7 to 11 years. These outbreaks, although economically damaging, are natural phenomena intertwined with rainfall patterns and ecosystem dynamics.

Within national parks across South Africa, locust swarms provide a vital food source for a range of animals including birds, mammals, and reptiles. Species such as red-winged starlings, rock monitors, and brown hyenas rely on locusts as a protein-rich meal. Moreover, locust droppings (frass) recycle nutrients—phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and carbon—back into the soil, enriching arid landscapes and supporting ecosystem health over vast areas.

Conclusion

Recognizing the dual nature of locust outbreaks—as both a threat and a natural ecological process—is crucial. Conservationists and farmers alike are exploring less harmful control measures that respect environmental balance. Meanwhile, addressing climate change remains key: without mitigating warming and erratic rainfall, locust cycles will likely intensify.

Investing in climate-smart agriculture, empowering vulnerable communities with resilient technologies, and fostering regional cooperation can help Africa withstand future swarms. Locusts may be ancient survivors of shifting climates, but humanity’s response must be equally adaptive, blending science, policy, and tradition to protect both people and ecosystems.