Farmers across Europe are warning of a sharp downturn in food production and rising consumer prices after extreme heat, drought and wildfires ravaged crops from maize to olives. At least nine million tonnes of crops were estimated destroyed by late July, with the European Commission estimating 6–7% of spring and summer harvests lost.
In France, Légumes de France warned of tens of millions of euros in vegetable losses, while Champagne growers expect their earliest-ever harvest, starting around 15 August. Spain's cereal crop is forecast to fall to 18.5 million tonnes, and olive groves have burned across Greece, Italy and Portugal. Olive oil prices, already elevated, have begun climbing again and are expected to surge further into autumn.
Turkey and Romania stand out as rare beneficiaries of favourable conditions, with record winter crop yields and a strong maize harvest respectively.