[Consulting firm Verisk said food security risks in Asia have intensified due to El Niño and war] On September 17, consulting firm Verisk said that extreme weather disasters will exacerbate food security risks in Asia and may trigger unrest in fragile countries such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The war in Iran has already disrupted supplies of fuel and fertilizer, both important inputs to the agricultural sector. Now extreme weather associated with a strong El Niño poses a further threat to crops in the region. Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, has been plagued by a series of uncontrollable wildfires that have affected harvests. Meanwhile, India, the world's largest rice exporter, relies on monsoon rainfall that is 15% below normal, and Thailand's sugar crop harvest is also set to decline.