THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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August 2026…
Europe’s prolonged heat waves are exposing a growing vulnerability that stretches far beyond agriculture or water shortages…
BRUSSELS…
- As Rhine, Danube, Po rivers fall to historic lows, continent is facing mounting disruptions to freight transport, electricity generation, industrial production, supply chains
Europe’s largest rivers are already at water levels normally seen at the end of summer, weeks ahead of schedule.
At this rate, another month of hot, dry weather could disrupt transport, electricity generation, agriculture and industrial production across the continent.
At this time of year, Alpine snowmelt and rainfall would typically replenish these waterways. But persistent drought and prolonged heat waves have pushed the Rhine, Danube and Po to near-historic lows in August.
Satellite images released by the European Union’s Copernicus program between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3 show extensive sandbanks and gravel bars emerging along stretches of the Loire in France, the Rhine near Boppard in Germany, the Danube near Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Power Plant and the Po near Cremona in northern Italy.
Areas that are normally submerged have become exposed, illustrating how widespread the hydrological stress has become across western and central Europe.
According to the EU’s European Drought Observatory, drought conditions remained severe across much of the continent through July, while worsening further in central-western Europe.
The consequences extend far beyond shrinking rivers…
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