Record Heat Wave Threatens Crops Across Europe

Extreme heat, drought conditions and wildfires are impacting tens of millions of euros worth of European crops, in the wake of the hottest June on record for Western Europe.

According to The Guardian, Spain's Ministry of Agriculture predicts the country’s 2026-27 cereal crop will fall from last year’s 24 million tonnes to little more than 18.5 million tonnes, while the European Union has cut harvest predictions for a range of crops, including sunflowers (down by 7%), grain maize (down 6%), and potatoes (down 3%).

Spanish agriculture coalition ASAJA further warned that fire damage has impacted orchards, vineyards and greenhouses, impacting fruits, avocados, almonds, grapes, vegetables and olive groves across the country. Additionally, olive oil producers are bracing for a surge in prices stemming from reduced output from growers in Greece, Italy and Portugal.

“Unless the weather is under control soon, we should expect pricing to rise in the autumn since there will be less edible fruit to make olive oil from," predicted Sarah Vachon, founder of the Citizens of Soil olive oil group.

The situation in France's wine regions is similarly dire, as drought conditions, fires and extreme heat have threatened grape harvests. In late July, wildfires forced nearly 60,000 people to evacuate near the city of Bordeaux, where growers have been raising concerns over potential impacts that could affect wine production for years down the line.

Speaking to CBS News, executive wine editor for Food & Wine Ray Isle explained how grapes in Bordeaux's vineyards are in a delicate phase of growth that represents "the worst time for smoke to hit them." 

"You're going to have wine that tastes like licking an ashtray," Isle said. In a region that produces as many as 700 million bottles of wine a year, the fallout from this summer's wildfires could be felt long after the flames are extinguished, affecting both this year's harvest and the quality of future vintages that rely on grapes grown years in advance.