Wildfires are no longer distant threats confined to remote forests. They’ve become a relentless global force, devouring millions of hectares each year and advancing into farmland, orchards, and fertile crop belts previously considered safe. What was uncommon has become alarmingly frequent, driven by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and human-altered landscapes. Today, wildfires threaten more than natural ecosystems—they jeopardise the very foundation of global food security.
Across the world, farmers face the same terrifying reality. Devastating wildfires race toward fields they’ve nurtured for years. A single wildfire can erase decades of work—destroying crops, soil health, irrigation systems, and income in minutes. These fires often hit just before harvest or during peak growth. Smoke, ash, and heat ruin produce, disrupt labor, and ripple through supply chains.
Wildfires and droughts aren’t isolated events—they feed each other. Drought dries the land, making it flammable. Fires then destroy the vegetation that holds moisture in the soil, deepening the drought. Even untouched regions feel the impact through smoke, heat stress, and depleted water sources.
At exci, we believe that speed saves. Our Australian-made, AI-powered wildfire detection system monitors over 40 million acres in real time using a network of cameras. It detects smoke and fire within minutes of ignition, giving farmers and responders the time to act before disaster strikes.
When food security is at stake, early wildfire detection isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Crops in the Line of Fire
Wildfires affect more than forests—they strike the heart of agriculture. In fire-prone regions, certain crops suffer the most. These are not just any crops. They support economies, feed families, and preserve culture. When they burn, we lose food, jobs, and stability.
Let’s explore the crops most at risk and what’s truly at stake.
Grapes
When Smoke Taints the Taste
Riversdale Estate Vineyard. Source- Flickr
Wildfires have ravaged California, Western Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Southern Europe wine regions. Even if flames never reach the vines, smoke travels far. It clings to grape skins and causes smoke taint—a compound that ruins taste and renders wine unsellable.
In 2020, California’s wine industry lost over $600 million to wildfire damage. Many wineries discarded entire vintages. Recovery takes years, as vines need three to five years to mature. In addition, smoke damage can weaken market trust, especially in global exports.
Moreover, fires disrupt harvest schedules. Road closures, poor air quality, and labor shortages delay picking and processing. Timely wildfire detection is essential to protect both crops and a centuries-old industry.
Wheat
Fields Turned to Ash
Wheat in the Hula valley 2007 Modified by Carol Spears Source- https-commonswikimediaorgwikiFile-Wheat-haHula-ISRAEL
Wheat fields stretch wide and flat—perfect conditions for fast-moving fires. Regions like Australia, Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest have lost thousands of hectares within hours.
Heatwaves dry the land. A spark from machinery, lightning, or an accident can ignite an inferno quickly. In Australia, fires often overlap with harvest season, worsening losses.
Furthermore, wheat plays a key role in global food security. Fires in major exporting nations can spike international prices and threaten importing countries. Infrastructure losses—like silos, storage, and fencing—add to the long-term burden.
Recent fire events show how quickly disaster strikes:
- In Oregon, USA, the 2018 Substation Fire burned over 50,000 acres and destroyed $5 million of soft white winter wheat. This loss accounted for 3% of Oregon’s wheat crop that year. The fire struck just weeks before harvest, when wheat was driest and most flammable.
- In Oise, France, a 2019 heatwave triggered a wildfire that burned more than 500 acres of soft white wheat during harvest. Oise ranks among France’s top wheat-producing regions. Due to drought and rain-related sowing delays, France’s wheat yield dropped 21% that season.
- The 2021 Wooroloo Fire scorched over 26,000 acres in Western Australia, affecting key wheatbelt shires. This region produces multiple wheat varieties for noodles, breads, and flatbreads. The fire also raised concerns about smoke taint—scientists have only begun exploring how smoke affects wheat flavor and safety.
Almonds and Other Tree Nuts
Fires Erase Seasons of Hard Work
Almond trees in bloom By Jausel – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66984341
California’s Central Valley produces over 80% of the world’s almonds. It’s also highly fire-prone. Tree nuts take years to mature. A single wildfire can erase seasons of work and future income.
In addition, almond pollination relies on bees. Smoke disrupts their flight and behavior. In 2020, bee activity fell sharply, and harvests dropped, even in unburned orchards.
Fires also destroy irrigation systems, pumps, and controllers. Without water, even surviving trees may die. Rebuilding is slow and costly.
Olives
Ancient Groves Destroyed in Minutes
Old Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane; By Beko – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75788187
Wildfires have consumed centuries-old olive groves in Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Spain. These trees grow on steep terrain where firefighting access is limited.
In 2021, fires devastated Turkey’s Muğla province and Greece’s Evia Island, leaving entire communities without income. These olive groves hold cultural significance, not just economic value.
Moreover, fires degrade soil. They strip nutrients, disrupt microbial life, and accelerate erosion. For many farmers, the loss is permanent, both financially and emotionally.
Citrus Fruits
The Hidden Wildfire Damage
Lemon tree By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https-:commons.wikimedia.org:w:index.php?curid=4534331
Fires in citrus-growing regions like California, Spain, and Australia don’t always kill the trees, but the damage is real. Trees may appear intact, but fruit exposed to radiant heat often drops early, becomes sunburned, or fails to develop.
Ash settles on fruit, reducing market value and increasing post-harvest cleaning costs. Smoke alters taste and shelf life, especially in delicate fruits like mandarins and lemons.
Moreover, wildfires often coincide with harvest time, forcing farmers to choose between risking laborers’ safety or abandoning crops. Citrus farming is labour-intensive, and any disruption in timing can severely cut profitability.
Coffee and Cocoa in Crisis
When the Beans Burn
Coffee plantation CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117185
In Brazil, wildfires linked to agricultural expansion now threaten coffee plantations. Shade-grown coffee suffers when nearby forests burn. In West Africa, cocoa faces similar risks.
Smoke and heat stress reduce flowering and bean quality. Water access declines as springs and rivers dry up after forest loss. Fires destroy forest cover and vegetation that help regulate microclimates and support healthy growing conditions.
These crops support millions of small farmers. Supply chain disruptions raise prices and cut income, especially in low-income countries.
Burned Pastures
No Grass – Livestock Suffers
Burning grass By Joost Naber – https-:www.flickr.com:photos:gnozef:343982416:, CC BY 2.0, https-:commons.wikimedia.org:w:index.php?curid=1868678
Livestock depend on healthy pasture. Wildfires can wipe out grazing lands within hours, leaving animals without food or shelter. During Australia’s catastrophic 2019–2020 fire season, over 100,000 animals were killed or euthanized due to burns, injuries, or starvation. In Argentina and the United States, scorched pastures drove up feed prices and forced farmers to reduce herd sizes.
The destruction doesn’t end when the flames die out. Fires often destroy water troughs, fencing, and shearing sheds—vital infrastructure that supports daily farm operations. Recovery is slow and expensive.
Moreover, even if animals survive the immediate fire, they face serious threats in the aftermath. With feed and water in short supply, malnutrition, illness, and herd weakness become widespread. As a result, meat and milk production declines, driving up consumer prices and increasing financial pressure on farmers already pushed to the brink.
Pasture recovery depends on fire intensity, rainfall, soil condition, and plant species. Cool to moderate burns often allow native and tropical grasses—like kangaroo grass or kikuyu—to bounce back after summer rain. However, hot fires can destroy seeds, root systems, and soil structure, especially in susceptible species like perennial ryegrass. Recovery may take months or longer, especially in low-rainfall areas or on degraded land.
Farmers are advised to rest burned paddocks for at least 4–6 weeks, allowing biomass to rebuild. Supplementary feeding, using sacrifice paddocks, and sowing fast-growing forage crops like oats or ryegrass can bridge feed gaps. Weed control and soil testing are also critical to ensure successful pasture regeneration.
The ripple effects are clear: wildfires don’t just destroy landscapes—they undermine entire livestock systems and food supply chains.
AI and Agriculture: A Powerful Alliance
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping agriculture. As global spending on smart farming grows—projected to reach $15.3 billion by 2025—AI becomes a core tool in climate adaptation.
AI doesn’t just boost efficiency. It helps mitigate climate risks like wildfires. With early alerts, farmers can act before fire spreads.
Safeguarding Agriculture from Wildfires
Respond Faster to Wildfires with exci’s AI
Farmers are under pressure from every direction—climate volatility, declining water access, and supply chain instability. Among the most urgent threats are intensifying wildfires, which endanger food systems, ecosystems, and rural communities.
exci’s advanced AI-powered wildfire detection system offers a solution to this global problem. Using ground-based camera data, our system detects wildfires within minutes of ignition. When a fire is detected, it instantly sends alerts to relevant responders. Customers can also access live camera feeds in real-time, enabling faster decision-making and rapid initial attack procedures.
exci now covers over 40 million acres across Australia, acting as a vigilant guardian against catastrophic wildfires. To date, our system has detected more than 160,000 fires, proving its reliability in protecting assets, communities, and ecosystems.
Moreover, exci offers a One-Stop Solution for comprehensive fire detection, management, and network connectivity. Proudly Australian-made and owned, we provide a complete package that includes:
- AI-driven detection for fast, accurate, and reliable early wildfire alerts
- Expertly designed and installed hardware for seamless fire monitoring
- Custom tower solutions tailored to your specific location and needs
- Expert installation and maintenance services
- Real-time camera access and control allow immediate situational awareness and informed decision-making during wildfire events.
Dulong Lookout fire detection by exci’s AI
A Smarter, Safer Agricultural Future
AI is reshaping the future of agriculture—enhancing everything from early risk detection to smarter production. But real progress starts with protection. As climate change drives more frequent and intense wildfires, early wildfire detection becomes essential to maintaining productive farms and resilient food systems.
exci is leading this transformation. Our AI-powered wildfire detection technology helps farmers act faster—buying them the critical minutes needed to respond before a small fire becomes a disaster. By addressing the growing threat of climate-driven wildfires, we help mitigate one of the most pressing risks to global food security.
Don’t let Hazardous Events become Catastrophic!
Secure your assets, enhance your fire response capabilities, and experience peace of mind with exci’s innovative solutions.
👉 Contact us today to learn how we can customise our AI-powered wildfire detection and network solutions to meet your specific needs.
Email: info@exci.ai
International: +61 458 594 554
Australia: 1300 903 940
Together, we can build a safer, more sustainable future for agriculture and the planet—one early alert at a time.
