Helios Blog
Stay in the know with the latest updates, discussions, and more from Helios AI.

U.S. Tariffs: A Fresh Blow to the Agri-Food Sector's Supply Chain
The newly implemented U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Policy, announced on April 2, 2025, then paused on April 9, 2025 for everyone except China, is poised to reshape not only global trade but also the contents — and cost — of the average American grocery basket. When this new policy begins, a baseline 10% tariff is applied to all imports entering the U.S., with significantly higher rates of up to 50% imposed on select countries.

The Rise of Mangoes in Sicily: Adapting Crops to a Warmer Europe
For centuries, Sicily has been synonymous with Mediterranean staples like lemons, olives, and grapes. But over the past two decades, a quiet transformation has taken root across the island: mango cultivation. Once limited to tropical and subtropical latitudes, mangoes are now thriving in Sicily’s evolving climate.

A Wall of Water: How Cyclone Alfred Devastated Queensland’s Sugarcane Heartland
In February through early March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Alfred delivered destructive winds and unprecedented rainfall to Far North Queensland, devastating the region’s sugarcane industry. Over this period, the cyclone system brought between 16 to 26 inches within just 48 hours, with some localized areas around Tully and Ingham recording over 28 inches of rain.

Helios’s 91% Success Rate in Detecting Global Supply Disruptions
To assess the effectiveness of our platform, we conducted a five-year backtesting analysis of disruptions affecting three different commodity types to answer one key question: How well did Helios detect major disruptions affecting these commodities worldwide? Our analysis revealed that Helios successfully detected 91% of agricultural supply chain disruptions over the past five years.

Corn Belt Chaos & Free Access for Farmers
Recent weather events have placed significant strain on corn production across the Midwest, particularly in the Corn Belt states of Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. With climate now a primary driver of agricultural commodity prices, access to reliable data has never been more crucial. Helios is stepping up by offering free access to its platform for farmers across the U.S., ensuring they have the information they need to navigate increasingly volatile conditions.

Climate Change and Agriculture: Rising Ocean Temperatures Threaten Global Food Security
Climate change is profoundly impacting our oceans, accelerating warming that disrupts marine ecosystems, weather patterns, and human societies. Recent studies reveal that ocean temperatures are now rising at 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade, a stark increase from 0.06 degrees per decade in the late 1980s.

Automation vs. Workforce: Finding Harmony with Ethical AI
Automation and AI are transforming industries worldwide, and agriculture is no exception. While these advancements promise to revolutionize farming, they also bring anxiety. A significant portion of the agricultural workforce—especially migrant workers—faces the risk of job loss as automation takes over repetitive and labor-intensive tasks. Studies estimate that over 30% of agricultural jobs could be automated by 2030, threatening livelihoods and communities that depend on these roles.

Francisco Martin Rayo, CEO at Helios AI Joins NYSE TV Live
Our CEO, Francisco Martin-Rayo, announced our most recent product launch live at the NYSE! Connect with us to discover how we can help your teams forecast agricultural prices years in advance.

Climate Change, Cocoa, and the Future of Valentine’s Day
Every February 14th, millions of people exchange chocolates as a symbol of love and affection. But what if I told you that the future of this beloved tradition is at risk? Some experts predict that by 2050, rising temperatures could make large portions of these cocoa-growing regions unsuitable for farming.

Beyond Tariffs: The Real Reasons Behind Soaring Avocado & Tomato Prices
The rising cost of avocados and tomatoes has become a pressing concern for consumers, retailers, and procurement leaders alike. These staple produce items, heavily imported from Mexico, have already seen significant price increases over the past year due to a combination of supply chain disruptions, adverse weather conditions, and strong consumer demand.

Stay Ahead with Helios: New Insights Features for Enhanced Climate Risk Management
Helios has rolled out its latest updates to the Insights page, bringing a host of new features tailored to help procurement leaders manage climate risks with greater ease and precision. These updates are designed specifically for Points of Interest (POIs)—locations tied to individual commodities—providing actionable insights without overwhelming you with unnecessary complexity.

How Can Coffee Production Thrive in a Changing Climate? A Conversation with Daniel Ramírez
As climate change continues to reshape agricultural landscapes, coffee production faces unprecedented challenges, from erratic rainfall to pest outbreaks. In a recent study, Daniel Ramírez explored how integrating shade systems and leveraging data from the Helios platform can enhance climate resilience in coffee farming.

Near-Miss or Wake-Up Call? What Port Strikes Mean for Agriculture
The much-feared East Coast and Gulf Coast port strike has officially been averted, following a last-minute agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and shipping companies. While the crisis was averted, the near-miss underscores a harsh reality: port disruptions remain a significant risk to the stability of agricultural commodity supplies.

Podcast Feature - Farm to Fork: Climate on Our Plate
Our CEO, Francisco, was featured on the Farm to Fork: The Innovators with David Maloni Podcast this week. Together, they examine the current state of commodity markets, discuss how climate change is reshaping supplies and prices, identify which crops are feeling the greatest impact, and explore actionable strategies for adapting where and how we produce our food.

Hurricane Helene Challenges North Carolina's Christmas Tree Industry
2024 has been an extremely challenging year for North Carolina’s Christmas tree farmers with extreme weather events wreaking havoc on an industry that supplies a significant share of the nation’s holiday evergreens. Consumers can expect to pay more for their Christmas trees in the next few years — potentially 20-30% above last year’s prices in some areas.

From Wet to Dry: Chile’s Blackberries Face Growing Climate Pressures
Chile’s blackberry harvest is facing mounting challenges as shifting weather patterns disrupt this vital crop, which represents a significant 8.9% of the country’s fruit exports. This year’s blackberry harvest in Chile has been shaped by erratic weather conditions, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on agriculture.

Sweet Potatoes: A Thanksgiving Staple Under Threat
While celebrating Thanksgiving this year, remember that the U.S. almost lost one of its Thanksgiving MVPs (Most Valuable Produce): sweet potatoes. North Carolina, the largest producer in the country, suffered a severe drought in June and July, followed by unrelenting rainfall at the end of the summer that nearly doubled precipitation levels, climbing from 19 to 38 inches.

Winter’s Wake-Up Call: How Warmer Winters Are Wreaking Havoc on Crops
Warmer winters are throwing a wrench into the delicate machinery of agriculture, and the effects are not pretty. Crops that count on cold weather for their winter nap—like wheat and fruit trees—are waking up groggy or, worse, not waking up properly at all. This winter "snooze button fail" is bad news for farmers.

Thirsty Crops? How Helios AI's Water Stress Map Helps Beat Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Water scarcity is no longer some far-off threat; it’s here, and it’s hitting agriculture hard. That’s why Helios AI’s new "Water Stress Map" is a game-changer, offering a future-focused, interactive view of water stress in key agricultural zones.

The US cranberry harvest is terrible - if you’d had Helios, you would’ve known that months ago
This year, the cranberry harvest in the United States is facing its greatest challenge yet due to a severe drought, including New Jersey, one of the nation’s top cranberry-producing states. Our AI platform has been tracking this risk since early in the growing season, providing valuable insights into how persistent drought conditions would likely impact cranberry yields.