Extreme drought in Europe: Is our food security at risk?

Crisis in Agriculture: Drought Changes the European Dining Table

Global warming and the "El Niño" phenomenon are putting serious pressure on agriculture in Europe. From the Netherlands to Bosnia, farmers are struggling with water shortages and heatwaves that are destroying produce.

"People want long French fries, but that will be difficult this year," says Dutch farmer Hendrik Jan ten Cate.

Key consequences of climate change:

• Netherlands: Record low potato yields, threatening the supply chain of popular fast-food chains.
• Bosnia: Corn yield has plummeted from 7 tons to just 1.5-2 tons per hectare.
• Czech Republic: Beer production is at risk due to a poor hop harvest and changed precipitation patterns.
• Romania: The low level of the Danube River is blocking grain logistics.

Economic shock

An analysis by Triodos Bank predicts that heatwaves could reduce EU GDP by 1% in 2026. This amounts to about 180 billion euros in losses, with farmers taking the hardest hit.

While some farms are investing in expensive irrigation infrastructure, others are looking for innovative solutions, such as growing resilient crops. However, in the absence of rain, even the most resilient plans are being put to the test.