AGP Executive Report

Heat & drought hitting UK farms: Suffolk growers report yields down 25–30% as the driest July on record bites, with food-security fears rising as harvests come in early and below average. Extreme weather costs in France: Farmers’ union leaders warn losses from heat, wildfires and drought could run into “billions of euros,” with insurance unlikely to cover the scale. Water stress across Europe: Reports highlight drying rivers and hydropower strain, adding pressure to farming and rural economies. Disease & crop protection dispute (Spain): Valencian rice authorities clash with the national ministry after aerial treatment against blast disease was denied, leaving farmers “defenseless” as resistance spreads. Bulgaria security near agri-critical infrastructure: A drone exploded near the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline compressor station by the Romanian border; officials say there was no damage to nearby agricultural land. Trade & food security (Serbia–Ukraine): Serbia and Ukraine pledge deeper economic ties and a push toward a long-stalled free trade deal, with food-security cooperation on the agenda. Livestock show calendar (Ireland): Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show draws major crowds for judging, trade stands and farm innovation. Agri innovation & markets (Tanzania): Swissport Tanzania opens a cold-storage cargo facility at Kilimanjaro airport to help temperature-sensitive produce reach European markets. Biodiversity risk (Costa Rica, coffee): A “coffee frog” species faces potential pesticide threats in plantations, underscoring farm chemical impacts on wildlife.

Border Checks & Trade: UK meat exporters are pushing back on new French border inspection rules for hanging meat carcasses, warning consignments could be refused if hauliers don’t meet the added requirements. Heat & Drought Fallout: Europe’s record heat is hitting crops and water systems hard, with UK farmers warning of a potential “worst harvest on record” and higher food costs as cereals and oilseeds yields fall; drought is also damaging vegetables and raising prices. Crop-Specific Damage: Dutch sugar beet growers warn yields could drop sharply as groundwater falls; Germany and France are also bracing for weaker sugar beet harvests due to drought, extreme heat and disease pressure. Livestock & Disease: UK farmers are urging readiness for emerging animal and plant diseases as bluetongue spreads after warm weather. Ukraine Grain Supply: Bulgaria says it will test all sunflower seed imports from Ukraine for pesticide residues, while also seeking EU crisis-reserve support for dairy and pig producers facing falling purchase prices.

Heatwave & Wildfire Fallout: Europe’s record summer heat is now hitting farms and food systems hard, with drought and low rivers adding pressure to agriculture and energy, while wildfires in Spain and France keep damaging land and livelihoods. Livestock Health Alert: Britain’s bluetongue outbreak is accelerating as warmer weather boosts the spread of the midges that carry the virus, with farmers reporting rising cases and added financial stress. Worker Safety in Extreme Weather: Italy is facing renewed scrutiny after a 19-year-old farmworker died while harvesting tomatoes in 37°C heat, with investigators looking at whether outdoor-labor rules were followed. Market & Policy Support for Farmers: Bulgaria’s agriculture ministry is urging the EU Commission to unlock exceptional financial support for struggling dairy and pig producers as purchase prices fail to cover production costs. Food Prices Watch: The FAO says global food prices edged up in July, driven by higher cereal, sugar and vegetable oil prices amid heatwaves and geopolitical risks. Agri-Fraud Crackdown: Dutch inspectors seized a banned fungicide shipped from China and disguised as dog food, after customs flagged suspicious paperwork tied to a Zeeland fruit grower.

Heat and drought squeeze European farming and food security: Britain faces its sixth heatwave in three months, with yellow heat-health alerts and fears of smaller, pricier harvests as drought deepens; across Europe, record heat and low river levels are also disrupting freight, power generation and agricultural output. Waterway crisis hits Rhine and Danube: The Rhine at Germany’s Kaub has fallen to about 25cm, forcing reduced cargo loads; the Danube’s low levels are threatening cooling water for power plants, including Hungary’s Paks nuclear site. EU agri-food policy pressure: The European Commission cleared the Mars–Kellanova merger, but signalled future reviews will lean more on real-world retailer and consumer behaviour than brand size alone. UK beef trade warning: A DUP MP urges DEFRA to protect the UK beef sector after the EU suspended Brazilian beef imports from 3 September 2026. Agri-tech for climate resilience: Italian scientists unveiled a 121-sensor agrivoltaic greenhouse monitoring platform under an EU-funded project, aiming to improve irrigation responsiveness and microclimate control. Biosecurity and animal health: Experts warn bluetongue vaccination is needed as cases rise, with vets urging action to protect sales and livestock.

Drought & Water Stress: Central and Southeastern Europe’s heat and lack of rain are now hitting power generation hard, with the Danube’s record-low levels forcing production halts in countries like Hungary and Romania, and ripple effects across transport and harvest expectations. Wildfires & Farm Risk: France’s wine regions are bracing for “smoky taste” damage after wildfires scorched vineyards, while broader Europe-wide heat is driving record losses and evacuations. Biodiversity on Farmland: In Belgium, a pilot project at ZOO Planckendael is moving at-risk northern lapwing eggs from intensively farmed fields into incubation, then releasing chicks back to the wild to counter steep population declines. Land Abandonment: Slovakia is seeing around 300,000 hectares of agricultural land overgrow, with conservation groups urging EU funding to restore meadows, orchards and pastures to boost fodder and protect pollinators. Livestock & Breeding: A Swiss Holstein expert has been named judge for Ireland’s 2026 Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition, spotlighting longevity and production efficiency. Market Signals: Cocoa prices in Europe are sliding as Ghana reports a larger 2025/26 harvest and inventories rise, adding pressure to global supply expectations. Agri-Tech & Drones: ZenaTech says it has completed its 27th Drone as a Service acquisition, expanding drone surveying and land services into Idaho—another sign of growing demand for aerial data in agriculture and infrastructure.

Heat & Drought Pressure on Farms: Britain’s “exceptionally serious” drought is leaving crops stressed, with farmers reporting sharp yield drops and fears for food supply as water restrictions spread. Wildfire Risk Escalates in Southern Europe: France has issued extreme wildfire alerts for Aude, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse and Var, with an ongoing blaze damaging homes and triggering access limits. Livestock Health Watch: Scotland’s chief vet urges bluetongue vaccination planning as cases rise elsewhere in Great Britain, even though Scotland remains free of BTV-3. EU Input Support in Focus: The EU-backed Seeds4Liberia programme in Liberia has handed over improved seeds and farming materials, with local farmers’ unions stressing that success depends on farmers taking ownership. Market Signals for Poultry: Reuters reports a Brazil poultry glut is likely to squeeze producer margins, with weak domestic demand and falling beef/pork prices weighing on chicken profitability. Organic Push in Scotland: Environment charities are calling for Scotland to double organic farmland by 2031, arguing for faster growth to cut pesticide use and emissions. Renewables, Not Farmland, but Rural Impact: PPC Group is buying a 277.3 MW wind/solar portfolio in Poland, underlining continued investment in clean power across Central and Southeastern Europe.

Heat & Food Prices: UK shoppers are seeing cucumbers jump from 99p/kg to £2.09/kg as heatwaves and drought hit salad supplies across Europe, with warnings that other crops like tomatoes, lettuce and peppers could follow. Wildfires & Drought Pressure: France’s July was its hottest since records began, with drought raising fire risk; authorities report hundreds of wildfire arrests as blazes damage large areas. Water Stress Across Europe: Record-low Danube levels are exposing riverbed finds and worsening energy and transport strain across Central and Eastern Europe. EU Farm Policy: Ireland’s EU presidency month focused on animal welfare during transport, updated organic rules, CMO reforms and progress on the livestock strategy and protein plan. Livestock Strategy: A new EU livestock strategy frames cattle, sheep and dairy as strategic assets for food security and regional resilience, not just an emissions problem. Generational Renewal in Spain: Balearic Islands ranks among Spain’s worst for young farmers, with only 5.8% of CAP aid recipients under 40. EU Genomics: The EU adopted regulation on new genomic techniques, setting new expectations for plant and seed breeders.

Heat & Harvest Shock (UK): Britain is bracing for another 35C spell, with farmers warning of a “worst harvest on record” as drought and extreme summer weather cut cereal and oilseed output by about 2.5m tonnes, threatening up to £390m in losses and raising food price fears. Drought Pressure (France): France’s rivers and streams are drying fast: 43% of monitored small waterways were dry by August, pushing emergency water measures and hitting agriculture and local supplies. Wildfire Escalation (North Macedonia): As Europe’s drought deepens, North Macedonia is battling fresh wildfire outbreaks, with 14 open-air fires logged by Aug 4 and firefighting stretched across multiple regions. EU Farm Permits (Policy): MEPs have urged the Commission to ease permit rules for agriculture and forestry infrastructure, arguing approvals are slowing modernization and investment. Global Food Risk (El Niño): The UN’s WFP warns a strong El Niño could add nearly 49m people to acute hunger by end-2027, with Central America and southern Africa among the hardest hit. Soil & Carbon Tech (Agri-business): Syngenta and Groundwork BioAg announced a partnership to market mycorrhiza-based soil health solutions tied to carbon credits for crops including corn, soy, cereals and sunflower. Marine Restoration (Ireland): Northern Ireland opened its first floating oyster reef in Antrim to restore native flat oysters and improve coastal biodiversity.

EU-Africa Climate-Smart Farming Deal: Rwanda and the EU signed a €40m, five-year financing agreement to modernise agriculture and back climate-resilient practices for smallholders, cooperatives, women, youth and SMEs. Heat & Drought Hitting European Food: Record heat and drought are already cutting crop prospects across Europe, with Spain’s cereal forecast sliding and EU harvest estimates down for sunflowers, grain maize and potatoes, while wildfires threaten orchards, vineyards and olive groves. Water Stress on the Ground: In the UK, the driest July on record has left drought conditions entrenched and hosepipe bans affecting millions, with storms unlikely to end the dry spell. Live Animal Export Shock: Brittany Ferries will stop live animal exports to France from next month, prompting concern from Irish farmers about continued access to the Single Market. Farm Adaptation Under Pressure: A Suffolk apple grower is coating fruit with clay “sunblock” to prevent apples from cooking on the tree during extreme heat.

Wildfire & heat crisis: Greece’s blaze west of Athens is still threatening with flare-ups and a large aerial response, while France and Spain also face flare risks as Europe swelters and drought deepens. Water stress for farming & power: Europe’s shrinking rivers are hitting hydropower, shipping and farm logistics, with the Danube and Rhine under severe strain. UK drought and food fears: England and Wales are officially in drought; farmers warn of crop losses and possible food shortages as irrigation costs rise. Input pressure: Fertilizer prices remain high amid geopolitical shocks, keeping pressure on EU farm margins. Agritech & farm robotics: A European robotics push is landing in field trials and shows, including deweeding and autonomous crop work. Plant health watch: Switzerland has identified a new virus in cattle, spread by midges, not flagged as highly contagious. Renewables with storage: EDP starts testing a wind-solar-battery hybrid in Spain, and TotalEnergies expands its European renewables pipeline via Shell deals. Agri value chain: Ghana’s cashew sector processes under 6% domestically, renewing calls to boost processing and stabilize farm-gate prices.

Drought & Water Stress: Record-low Danube and Rhine levels are now hitting Europe’s farms, power and freight hard, with Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant forced down to minimal output and Serbia’s hydropower squeezed as river flows stay dangerously low. Wildfire Fallout: Europe’s hot, dry summer continues to drive major wildfire risk and damage, with Greece still in the spotlight after deadly firefighting incidents and evacuations. EU Support for Fisheries: The European Commission approved €20m in fuel aid for Italian fishing and aquaculture firms as energy costs bite. Fertiliser Pressure: EU measures to support farmers facing fertiliser crises are rolling out, as drought and input costs keep worsening crop prospects. UK Food Supply Worries: Heatwave conditions are threatening UK potato yields, raising fears of smaller spuds and higher prices. Cocoa Market Shock: Cocoa prices jump on renewed concerns about Ghana’s production outlook, with disease and weather risks in focus. Policy & Trade Tensions: Farmers’ groups in Europe and beyond are pushing back on trade deals and regulatory burdens, arguing they could squeeze farm incomes. Aquaculture Debate: Spain’s plan for the world’s first commercial octopus farm has been abandoned after regulatory delays and public backlash.

Dutch nitrogen protests: Dutch farmers may face a fresh round of tractor action after the government floated new nitrogen-cutting proposals, with the sector calling the plan “incomprehensible and disproportionate” and warning of painful impacts. Water stress hits farms: Drought is tightening its grip across Europe, with the Netherlands’ iconic dikes and river systems under strain and farmers warning of smaller harvests and higher prices as irrigation limits bite. Wildfire pressure across southern Europe: Greece’s wildfire emergency remains volatile after two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air near Athens, killing two crew members, while Spain’s main blazes eased to monitoring in places but authorities still warn of flare-ups. UK drought and food supply worries: Britain’s drought is already forcing early harvesting and restricting water use, raising fears of crop shortfalls and wider food-system strain. Animal health watch: Bluetongue is spreading in Britain, with sheep farmers urged to vaccinate as cases rise. Agri trade angle: Egypt’s food exports hit a record first-half value, with EU demand up strongly, driven by citrus, potatoes, strawberries and olives.

Wildfire Tragedy in Greece: Two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air west of Athens (Psatha), killing two crew members (one Greek, one Danish) while two others were recovered alive; the crash came as gale-force winds drove blazes toward communities and agricultural land, with evacuations and heavy deployments continuing. Wildfire Pressure Across Europe: As western Europe saw some easing, the danger shifted back to Greece, while France and Spain continued assessing damage and firefighting capacity amid extreme heat and dry conditions. Drought Hits Food and Power: Hungary shut down its only nuclear plant as Danube water levels fell to record lows, raising the risk of power cuts—another sign of how drought is tightening both farm inputs and energy reliability. Ceuta Migration Crisis: Thousands of Moroccans crossed into Spain’s Ceuta, with dozens of deaths reported and families in Fnideq desperate for news; the episode is reigniting political pressure across the EU. Water Risk for Agriculture: New reporting links record heat and drought to lower EU/UK grain forecasts and warns that water stress is becoming a cross-sector threat, including for farming and food supply.

Wildfire Emergency: Greece’s wildfire toll is rising fast, with fires scorching thousands of hectares of forest and agricultural land near Athens and on islands like Crete and Paros, while evacuations and near-maximum risk alerts continue. Firefighting Strain: In France’s Gironde/Bordeaux region, crews describe exhausting conditions and major evacuations, with firefighters injured and killed as winds keep reigniting blazes. Heat & Drought Pressure on Farms: Drought is hitting across Europe, drying rivers and threatening irrigation and harvests; in the UK, Sussex fruit growers warn heat is “cooking” crops and could shrink this year’s harvest. Policy & Enforcement: Greece has launched large-scale livestock subsidy inspections with EU support, targeting farmers suspected of artificially meeting payment conditions. Andalusian Agriculture Politics: Spain’s Andalusia agriculture chief says a PP-Vox pact won’t change the department’s direction, stressing farm profitability and water infrastructure. Wind Investment Signal: Equinor won a long-term CfD for Poland’s Baltyk 1 offshore wind project, highlighting how longer price support is becoming key for new offshore deals. Animal Welfare Debate: Scotland’s “cow and calf” dairy model faces scrutiny as some question whether keeping calves with mothers is a welfare issue.

Wildfire Crisis Shift: Europe’s wildfire emergency eased in western France, Spain and Portugal, but the danger moved to Greece as gale-force winds drove new blazes and hampered firefighting aircraft, forcing fresh evacuations. Heat & Drought Pressure on Farms: France’s worst fire since 1949 was brought under control after massive evacuations, while drought and extreme heat continue to stress European agriculture and water supplies. Cocoa Supply Shock (EU-linked markets): Ghana warned cocoa output could fall 16% in 2026/27 due to El Niño-linked weather swings, swollen shoot virus, aging plantations and illegal mining—raising risks for global chocolate prices. Policy & Farmer Income: Ghana also passed the COCOBOD Bill guaranteeing farmers at least 70% of the FOB export price, aiming to stabilize the cocoa value chain. Animal Health Watch: Bird flu is suspected after mass mortality of greater crested terns in Australia, a reminder of how fast outbreaks can spread to farm animals and wildlife. Agri Tech for Resilience: Greece launched HELLAS-SPACE 2.0 (€350m) to support civil protection and precision agriculture using Earth observation and positioning services.

Wildfire shock across southern Europe: France and Spain are still assessing damage after record blazes, with Greece also battling fires and Crete hotspots; in France near Bordeaux, around 42,000 hectares burned and many evacuees have returned, while officials warn of lingering perimeter risks. Drought pressure on farms: UK farmers say extreme heat and drought could hit winter vegetable yields and quality, with “Christmas dinner” crops like potatoes and sprouts at risk if dry conditions persist. Heatwave alerts in Italy: Italy’s health authorities put 23 of 27 major cities on full heat emergency alert, linking the heat to wildfire flare-ups and faster grape harvests in Piedmont. Fertilizer supply chain warning: Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz highlight how fertilizer moves like a strategic commodity, with earlier shocks (Ukraine war, Belarus limits, phosphate export curbs) compounding food-price risk. Animal rescue during fires: Spain’s Safari Madrid and regional shelters moved animals into protected enclosures as flames threatened, while other sites turned into temporary shelters for livestock and pets. Farm policy angle: A UK debate continues over wild camping legality versus practice, reflecting how land access rules can shape rural life and land management.