Several European regions have experienced three heatwaves over the past three months. These heatwaves are unprecedented in their early occurrence in the year and in the record temperatures reached. The effects on farmers, livestock and crops have been catastrophic. The AGRIFISH Council, which is due to meet on 13 July 2026, must include measures to tackle this situation on its agenda, a situation that is set to worsen every year.
The feedback ECVC gathered from the field is worrying. The psychological and economic impact of these heatwaves cannot be underestimated. Many farmers are seeing a whole year’s work affected or destroyed.
To cite just a few examples:
- Berries are drying up on the vine, as are young trees, despite mulching and watering.
- Non-irrigated arable crops often fail to mature, and plants wither on the stalk.
- In market gardening, winter vegetables do not survive, and summer vegetables stop growing.
- Animal stress is evident, with high mortality rates, particularly among poultry. Limited access to fresh water, disease outbreaks, strained pasture management, and consistently low milk and egg yields are ongoing concerns.
- Widespread fires are causing significant damage.
- Workers continue to face challenges despite adjusted hours. Farmers are under increased pressure due to reduced staffing, and sales have declined because of market closures and lower customer traffic.
ECVC urges the implementation of immediate, concrete measures to safeguard farm viability.
- Activate the European crisis reserve to support farms, especially small ones, that have experienced significant revenue losses.
ECVC calls for comprehensive policy reforms and long-term measures to support climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- A CAP that supports the transition to a more social, more resilient and, ultimately, agroecological model, as well as land and natural resource management that enables us to meet the challenges of climate change and food production
- Ensure the CAP supports young people entering agroecological farming, particularly by regulating markets, production, and prices to cover production costs.
- Redistribute aid by capping payments at 60,000 euros per active farmer, and implement degressivity and redistribution measures favouring small farms, initial hectares, and first animals.
- Prioritise environmental measures and provide support to farms already practising responsible operations.
- Develop a livestock strategy that supports extensive smallholder farming, hardy breeds, and local slaughter, which are essential for fire prevention, land management, and preserving mountains and forests.
- Establish effective public insurance schemes, since private options often exclude small-scale producers.
Morgan Ody, a member of the coordinating committee, explains: “European Union leaders have chosen to scupper the Green Deal and the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, even though their targets were due to be met by 2030. These are irresponsible actions, as food supplies are under threat from the climate crisis. We cannot afford to abandon the targets for drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Contact information
Morgan Ody
FR, EN, ES
ECVC Coordination Committee
+33 6 26 97 76 43
Andoni García Arriola
ES, EUS
ECVC Coordination Committee
+34 636451569
ECVC Secretariat
press@eurovia.org