Germany faces potato shortage due to poor harvests

Germany is facing a significant potato crisis driven by extreme weather conditions and structural changes in agriculture. Prolonged heatwaves and droughts have severely impacted crop growth, leading to a dramatic decline in yields. The estimated total harvest is approximately 10.4 million tons, which is 13 percent below the long-term average and nearly a quarter less than the previous year.

In addition to lower yields, the total area dedicated to potato cultivation has decreased by more than 11 percent compared to last year. Yields per hectare have also dropped from 46 tons to less than 39 tons. These factors have created a shortage of raw materials and quality issues, as many potatoes remained undersized due to water scarcity.

The Federal Association of the Fruit, Vegetable and Potato Processing Industry (BOGK) has warned of significant shortages. This supply issue is affecting both the processing industry and consumers, resulting in higher prices and smaller portions of products like French fries in restaurants and supermarkets.