A record heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have cost the continent's grain farmers €2bn in lost revenue and destroyed 9m tonnes of crops, raising concern about the impact on food prices.
Key facts
- Europe's June heatwave is estimated to have cost grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue.
- Around 9m tonnes of crops were destroyed by record June temperatures.
- The grain harvest is expected to fall to its lowest level since 2018.
- The estimate covers crops including wheat, barley, maize and oats.
- The figures were produced by Coceral, the European cereals and oilseeds trade association.
The heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have cost the continent’s grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue and destroyed 9m tonnes of crops, according to the Guardian. The scale of the damage has sparked concern about the potential impact on the price of food.
The estimate was produced by Coceral, the European cereals and oilseeds trade association, following the record June temperatures. It covers the harvest of crops such as wheat, barley, maize and oats.
As a result of the heatwave, the region’s grain harvest is expected to be cut by 9m tonnes, bringing it to its lowest level since 2018. That drop reflects how extreme temperatures during a critical part of the growing season can significantly reduce yields.
The concern flagged in the reporting centres on what a smaller harvest could mean for consumers. A reduced supply of staple grains has the potential to feed through into higher food prices, though the exact effect depends on wider market conditions.
Grains such as wheat, barley, maize and oats are foundational to both human food supplies and animal feed, meaning shortfalls in one season can ripple across multiple parts of the food system.
The June heatwave adds to a growing pattern of extreme weather events affecting European agriculture, underscoring the vulnerability of crop harvests to sudden temperature spikes.
Why it matters
Grains like wheat, barley and maize are staples in food and animal feed, so a harvest at its lowest level since 2018 could push up costs for shoppers. The episode highlights how extreme heat is increasingly disrupting food supplies across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the June heatwave cost European grain farmers?
The heatwave is estimated to have cost the continent's grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue, according to the Guardian.
How many crops were destroyed?
An estimated 9m tonnes of crops were destroyed, cutting the grain harvest to its lowest level since 2018.
Who produced the estimate?
The estimate was made by Coceral, the European cereals and oilseeds trade association, covering crops such as wheat, barley, maize and oats.