Report Warns European Farmers Falling Behind Global Competitors

European agriculture risks falling further behind major global competitors unless farmers gain faster access to new technologies, according to a report commissioned by Bayer.

Analysis by Oxford Economics found crop production in the European Union grew just 0.1% annually from 2011 through 2023.  Growth in the United Kingdom was flat, compared with 1% in the United States and 2% globally.  Brazil averaged 3.3% annual growth.

The report says rising input costs and climate-related losses are adding pressure. Climate impacts cost European Union crop production an estimated 17.4 billion euros annually, or about 6.4% of its value.  Those losses could climb to nearly 29 billion euros by 2050.

Researchers argue that more proportionate regulations and faster access to improved seed technologies, crop protection products, and digital tools could help farmers boost productivity and withstand climate and market disruptions. The report says crop agriculture contributes 246 billion euros to the European Union’s GDP.

Click Here to read that report.

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