But not all EU member states will be in an equally bad situation
The European Environment Agency expects significant effects of climate change on agriculture in individual member states, suggesting a sharp drop in productivity in the south and higher yields in the north, writes German agricultural portal I www.topagrar.co.
Extreme weather and climate events such as drought and frost can alter crop production, trade patterns and income distribution in European agriculture.
Farmers in Italy, Greece, Portugal, southern France and southern Spain will have to adapt to a sharp decrease in the profitability of agriculture. Presumably, the yield of arable land there by 2100 will decrease by more than 80% compared with the base period 1971-1990, the EEA predicts. In Italy and Greece, yield is expected to decline from 40% to 80%.
In contrast, according to agency analysis, countries in the north and northwest of the EU, as well as in the alpine region, will benefit from climate change. Longer frost-free vegetation periods will allow the cultivation of new crops and varieties, such as corn and winter wheat, in some areas of northern Europe. In addition, global warming in colder regions could increase wheat yields.
An increase in the yield of arable land to more than 60% by 2100 compared with the period 1971 to 1990 is projected by the EEA for Sweden and Austria. Up to 40% for Denmark, the British Isles and Northern Germany.
On the other hand, in southern Germany and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony, returns will drop to 20%. Corresponding forecasts for Eastern Europe were not submitted by the agency due to lack of data.
Since climate change can lead to a loss of up to 16% of agricultural income in the EU by 2050, the international community and individual member states should continue to work to better adapt the industry to global warming, the European Environmental Protection Agency emphasized. It should also be the focus of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
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