Food shortage due to climate extreme

Farmers across Europe yesterday called on the European Union for urgent help to cope with the effects of one of the most extreme summers in the last decade, which could leave shops and supermarket shelves empty by the autumn.

Franz-Josef Feiter, the secretary general of COPA-COGECA, which represents 15 million farmers and 40,000 co-operatives in the EU, said the weather has caused problems in almost all agricultural sectors.

Mr. Feiter said: "There is not enough rain and it is too hot in Europe where plants are not made for this. Because of the drought there will properly be a significant reduction in the harvest."

A number of recent studies, including a report released by the UK Government in 2004, have predicted that UK and European summer precipitation is likely to be reduce by 20-40% by 2080 due to the effect of global warming.

While farmers from Finland to Spain may be hoping for this summers extreme temperatures to be an exception, there is reason to expect that the impact of climate change can be felt across Europe a lot earlier than predicted by many climate experts and that a permanent drought situation is quickly manifesting itself.

European supermarkets may suffer a shortage of vegetables and fruit later in the year, an industry group warned yesterday. According to OEITFL, which represent the entire European fruit and vegetable processing industry, shop owners should expect and prepare for empty shelves, fridges and freezers.