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Damage to crops from heatwaves and droughts ‘tripled’ in Europe over past 50 years

Source(s): Independent, the (UK)
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By Daisy Dunne

The impact of heatwaves and droughts on crop production in Europe has approximately tripled in the past 50 years, research suggests.

A study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters has found that, across 28 European countries, the average impact of a heatwave or drought disaster on crop production was three times greater in the period 1991-2015 compared with 1964-1990.

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A price spike is a large and temporary surge or fall in price following a short-term shock, such as an extreme weather disaster. Food price spikes can negatively affect both exporting and importing countries, with the world’s poorest – who spend a large proportion of their income on food – often the most affected.

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According to the results, the impact of all four types of extreme weather disasters on crop production increased over the study period. However, increases in drought and heatwave-related damages were the most pronounced.

Cereals saw the largest absolute increases in crop losses from heatwaves and droughts over the past five decades, the research found.

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Severity of drought and heatwave crop losses tripled over the last five decades in Europe English

Document links last validated on: 16 July 2021

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