Will Germany's drought push up food prices?
Germany's main farmers' association has warned of a below-average harvest after drought and crops damaged by extreme heat. DW looks into what lower yields could mean for food prices and grocery bills.
Germany's ongoing drought is causing farmers to expect a below-average harvest, which could potentially push up food prices. The German Farmers' Association (DBV) warned that the country's grain harvest would be 7% lower than last year due to an overly dry spring and a heat wave in June. Rapeseed production fell by nearly 17%, while barley remained at last year's level.
The potato and sugar beet crops were also expected to be below average. The Federal Statistical Office forecasted a 18% drop in Germany's apple harvest compared to last year. While the country still has a 2 million-ton grain surplus from last year, the sharp decrease in rapeseed and sugar beet production might strain domestic oil and sugar supplies.
Animal feed stocks have also been affected, particularly in southern Germany, leading to concerns about livestock numbers and prices for meat, milk, and eggs. Germany's food prices have already risen by over 36% since 2020 due to various pressures, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Gulf.
DBV has called for an immediate package of support from Berlin to help the agriculture sector, including boosting the EU's fertilizer aid package and cutting the tax on agricultural diesel.
Written by urgent.news from DW Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
