Severe European drought slashes yields from Dutch potatoes to Bosnian corn

Across the continent, an intense drought driven by climate change and a strong El Niño is crippling agricultural production. In the Netherlands, farmers like Maarten Janse and Hendrik Jan ten Cate see potato crops wither and expect harvests up to a third below average, threatening supplies for fast-food chains. In Bosnia, corn farmer Slavisa Lukic predicts yields of only 1.5-2 tons per hectare, far below his usual 6-7 tons.

Czech brewer Plzeňský Prazdroj warns that erratic rain and depleted groundwater will cut hop yields, endangering beer output. Romania’s Danube water levels are at historic lows, hampering grain shipments, while Hungarian dairy farms face rising feed costs due to dry pastures. Even large UK estates that invested in reservoirs, such as Elveden Estate, are running low on water. Triodos Bank’s analysis suggests the combined effect could reduce EU GDP by roughly 1% in 2026, about €180 billion.