Unfavourable weather events – high temperatures, hail, and droughts – over the summer months are estimated to have resulted in a 28.2% production decline for alpha and aroma hops compared to 2021 (64,338 tonnes EU total) and below the ten-year-average yields. A 37.8% drop is also expected for alpha acid production. Amid the exponential rise in production costs (energy, fertilisers, personnel, wire) and the lack of plant protection products, the harvest results pose major challenges for the entire hop industry.
Commenting on the estimate figures, Mr Zdenek Rosa, Chairman of the Copa-Cogeca Working Party on Hops stated, “The drop in hop and alpha acid yields are indicative of the growing impact of climate change. We are now facing important climate variations between years. 2022 with its severe drought conditions had a strong impact on plant development, reduced use of fertilisers and plant protection products due to the high production costs and shortages only worsen the situation. In fact, if we simply look at the cultivated areas, acreage has
remained stable at 30,795 hectares over the past few years. As a result, the market will be supplied with limited amounts of hops from 2022. Individual varieties are likely to be in short supply to fulfil existing contracts with brewers.”
European hop growers traditionally work with long-term contracts with prices fixed several years in advance. Those long term contracts do not take into count the dramatic cost increase that we are now facing. The inability to pass on the increased costs coupled with the reduced yields will strongly affect hop growers’ profitability who are already struggling to survive on the market.
Ongoing policy initiatives, such as the proposal for a Regulation on the sustainable use of Plant Protection Products, give rise to fears that several farmers might decide to no longer cultivate. Hop growers are committed to producing sustainably by employ ing modern technologies, monitoring the pressure of pests and diseases, and using plant protection products only when needed and only in the volume needed.
“For some minor crops, there have not been any substances we could use for some time now, despite the high pressure hop growers are faced with. Further reduction of available plant protection products will lead to lower yields and poor hops quality, whereas bans without viable alternatives are only pushing EU producers to the exit door and replacing domestic production with import”, added Mr. Rosa.
Artigo publicado originalmente em Copa Cogeca.