Extreme Heat and Drought Devastate European Agriculture

Extreme heatwaves, prolonged drought, and wildfires across Europe during the summer of 2026 have severely disrupted agricultural production. The Copernicus Climate Change Service identified June and July as the hottest months on record for western Europe, leading to significant crop failures and rising operating costs across the continent.

Grain and vegetable production have plummeted in several nations. Germany expects a 7% drop in grain production, while Slovakia projects a 17% decline. Serbia anticipates corn yields will fall 30% to 40% below normal. France is facing an exceptional crisis in its vegetable sector, specifically affecting peas, broccoli, and artichokes, while Italy and France report reduced wine yields due to accelerated ripening cycles.

Beyond direct crop losses, the sector is strained by high energy and fertilizer costs, particularly in Poland. In Greece, wildfires in the Halkidiki region destroyed olive groves and farms, while Spain reported cereal shortfalls and extensive farmland damage.

Governments and businesses are responding with adaptation strategies. The Federal Government of Belgium is implementing the Blue Deal water policy, and the Government of Serbia has adopted an Agriculture Strategy to 2034. In Spain, wineries are shifting to higher-altitude planting and nighttime harvesting. Claudia Kemfert, head of the Department of Energy, Transport and Environment at DIW Berlin, warned that these losses could cost Germany up to 900 billion euros by 2050.