欧美文化:Germany's grain harvest increases despite drought

BERLIN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Germany's grain harvest in 2022 increased by almost 2 percent year-on-year to around 43 million tons, despite the ongoing drought, according to provisional figures published by the German Farmers' Association (DBV) on Tuesday.

Due to the effects of climate change, crop volumes in 2022 remained "significantly below the average" of 45.6 million tons for the years 2014 to 2021, DBV said in its crop report.

Autumn crops such as corn, potatoes and sugar beet have "suffered massively" in regions affected by the drought, said DBV president Joachim Rukwied. Considerable yield losses are expected for this type of crop, he added.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) told Xinhua that the consequences of the climate crisis are showing up in the fields, vegetable plots, orchards and vineyards. In order to secure supply, it is important to support farmers in "successively adapting to the changed climate conditions," the spokesperson said.

Fields in Germany have been hit by a combination of above-average temperatures and hours of sunshine, as well as little rainfall since May, the country's National Meteorological Service (DWD) said earlier this month. This has caused soils to "dry out severely."

"The prolonged drought in many regions of the country shows once again that farmers are feeling the effects of climate change very directly," Rukwied stressed. "Looking at yields in recent years, it is clear that there cannot be any room for further area-wide restrictions on food production."

The European Union (EU) plans to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50 percent by 2030. Furthermore, the rules for handling such pesticides are to be tightened to ensure more sustainable food systems by 2030.

Food prices in Europe's biggest economy are outgrowing inflation, rising to 14.8 percent year-on-year in July, according to official figures. Meanwhile, flour and cereal products were 34 percent more expensive, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict affecting international supply.

Due to soaring prices, a German master baker has introduced an "inflation bread," which is made from wheat instead of the costlier rye, and uses corn to add flavor. "Nothing expensive is in there," he told local media. The 750-gram loaf sells for 2.50 euros (2.50 U.S. dollars), almost two euros cheaper than alternative breads.