Europe's Veggie Shortage: Heatwaves and Drought Wreak Havoc on Crop Yields

A severe heatwave and drought have ravaged Europe's vegetable supply, leading to significant losses for crops such as broccoli, lettuce, and cauliflower. France has reported losses ranging from 25% to 100% for different vegetables, while British growers say broccoli yields have fallen by about half and lettuce prices have surged.

The prolonged lack of rainfall has depleted soil moisture and water reserves, making successive heatwaves far more destructive. Unlike India, where weather-driven vegetable shortages often push up food prices due to inadequate storage and logistics infrastructure, Europe's challenge is primarily about protecting production rather than moving and storing what has already been harvested.

The scale of the damage is clearest in France, where open-field vegetables have suffered particularly hard. Le Monde reported that young plants had failed even where fields were irrigated, while temperatures reaching 37°C damaged crops that had otherwise received adequate water.