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June heatwaves cost EU grain harvests 2 billion euros
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Disasters & Emergencies

June heatwaves cost EU grain harvests 2 billion euros

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • June heatwaves in Europe have significantly impacted grain harvests, with estimated losses reaching 2 billion euros.
  • Corn production in the EU and UK is projected to decrease from 57.2 million tons to 52.7 million tons, with France and Hungary suffering the most.
  • Reduced harvests could lead to increased demand for imports, higher livestock feed costs, and affect grain availability for export markets like North and West Africa.

Europe's grain harvests have been severely affected by June heatwaves, resulting in an estimated production loss of 2 billion euros. The critical period for grain filling was hit hard, impacting wheat, spring barley, and other crops, according to the European association COCERAL.

Corn production in the EU and the UK is particularly affected, with forecasts revised down from 57.2 million tons to 52.7 million tons. France and Hungary have experienced the most significant losses. France's harvest is estimated to be down by 4.1 million tons, a loss valued at 891 million euros, with corn production falling to 9.4 million tons, even lower than during the severe drought in 2022.

Hungary's grain harvest estimate decreased by 2.4 million tons, valued at 444 million euros. Spain and Germany also reported losses of 1.4 million tons each. These reduced yields could increase demand for imports from countries like Ukraine and Brazil, and potentially decrease supplies for North and West African buyers from France.

This will hit farmers in the pocket, reduce their income, and at the same time undermine European food security.

โ€” Tom LancasterDescribing the financial and food security implications of the reduced harvest.

"This will hit farmers in the pocket, reduce their income, and at the same time undermine European food security," said Tom Lancaster, an analyst at the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). The ECIU's estimate represents the market value of lost production. While higher prices might compensate some producers, others may have sold their grain before the price increase.

Despite overall losses, harvests in Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, and Finland were revised upward, slightly mitigating the net change in expected European production value. The losses occur as EU governments negotiate the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, with critics arguing that subsidies should be redirected towards climate resilience rather than supporting practices that exacerbate crises.

continue to fund harmful practices that directly contribute to crises.

โ€” Teo PakeCriticizing current agricultural subsidy practices in the context of climate change.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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