Klimawandel: Kartoffelernte bricht durch Hitze und Dürre massiv ein
Die hohen Temperaturen im Sommer 2026 setzen der Kartoffelernte in Nordwesteuropa stark zu. In Deutschland droht laut Analyse der größte Verlust seit Jahren.
In 2026, the drought and heatwave had a significant impact on the potato harvest in northwest Europe, according to a new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). The ECIU's assessment of industry data revealed that Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands could be facing a shortfall of approximately 3.11 million tonnes of potatoes compared to their five-year average.
The total value of the lost production in these four countries is estimated to range from 405 million to 622 million euros, with Germany experiencing the largest absolute loss at 1.13 million tonnes. The figures represent preliminary estimates based on current and recent crop yields, rather than a final harvest tally. ECIU analyst Tom Lancaster stated that the effects of the record-breaking summer heat and drought were becoming evident in the agricultural sector as autumn approached.
Potatoes were among the most water-intensive crops in Europe, making it foreseeable that their harvest would be severely affected. This is corroborated by industry estimates, which show that yields in some cases dropped by up to 20 percent.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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