A punishing European drought shrivels crops from Dutch potatoes to Bosnian corn
Farmers face water restrictions and lower harvests as record-low river levels disrupt grain transport and leave some crops too small or stunted.
- Severe drought across Europe damaged crops on Tuesday, with farmers from the Netherlands to Bosnia reporting failing harvests due to extreme heat and lack of rainfall since late May.
- Triodos, a Dutch bank focused on sustainability, estimated the heatwaves and drought could reduce European Union gross domestic product by 1% for 2026, or around $208 billion.
- Reservoirs at Elveden Estate in England dropped to 20% capacity, prompting managing director Andrew Blenkiron to state, "We're very concerned that we haven't got enough water."
- Low water levels on the Danube River disrupted grain transport and congested terminals, while stunted hops yields threaten production at Czech Republic's PlzeHsk Prazdroj brewery.
- Farmers like Sándor Molnár, who buys expensive feed for his 130 cows, hope for better weather next year as inconsistent yields and low groundwater levels persist across the continent.
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33 Articles
Deutsche Welle
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European drought shrivels crops despite farmers’ best efforts to adapt
The drought roasting much of Europe this summer is taking a heavy toll on crops across the continent, from potatoes in the Netherlands to corn in Bosnia. Triodos, a Dutch bank with a focus on sustainability, has warned that this could reduce gross domestic product across the EU by 1 percent for 2026 – or around €180 billion.
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