Broccoli shortage in Europe this summer due to climate change

Many times we look for signs of climate change in extreme temperatures and natural disasters, but so…

Many times we look for signs of climate change in extreme temperatures and natural disasters, but some of the most reliable indicators are not so obvious, such as the suffering of agricultural crops as a result of sustained heat or lack of rainfall.

One of the crops that is most vulnerable against global warming is broccoli. According to sources from the non-profit association +Brócoli, so far this summer there has been a great shortage of broccoli across Europe due to climatic reasons. Some regions were unable to plant in April and May due to excessive rainfall and others are seeing their crops affected by the heat.

The association - devoted to promoting the consumption of this vegetable in Spain - explains that during the summer broccoli is usually produced in areas that are over 1,000 meters above sea level; this includes some places in the province of Murcia, high areas in the province of Albacete, and fields in Almería, Granada or La Rioja. The idea is to expand the map of summer crops in the coming years, but the question is: where? "The climatic conditions are becoming increasingly challenging for broccoli cultivation," they say.

The main problem is that this vegetable is especially sensitive to heat, as it is an autumn-winter species. Many vegetables suffer in summer, but broccoli is a crop that is especially hit by global warming, even though varieties with a greater resistance to temperature stress are being sought. This translates into a sharp decline in the summer production and, consequently, an increase in the price recorded across Europe.

"Broccoli prices are very high this summer and it is more a consequence of shortages than of excess demand," say representatives of +Brócoli. “We must make it very clear that climate change is already affecting us today, and the obvious proof is the sharp decline in our production. Almost all of this summer's supply comes from frozen storage. It is also true that broccoli is an autumn vegetable; it is usually adapted to 20-22 degrees Celsius, so 35 or 40 degrees is difficult to handle.”