As extreme temperatures increasingly disrupt crop growth, water availability, and labor productivity, producers across Europe are rethinking how they manage heat-related risks throughout their operations.
Rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves are placing greater pressure on agricultural production. Research from the European Central Bank (ECB) estimates that an extreme combination of heat and drought could reduce annual agricultural output across Europe by almost five percent on average.
Producers in southern European countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain have experience in coping with extreme heat. But now regions further north, such as Germany and France, are also encountering heat stress and its impact on farming operations. In Germany alone, the heat wave in late June 2026 has caused an estimated €6.3 billion in economic losses.
As extreme heat events become more frequent and intense, effective heat management has become a business priority, not just a seasonal concern. Producers can strengthen resilience and reduce operational disruptions by focusing on the areas where heat-related risks have the most impact. “Extreme heat can no longer be treated as an exceptional event,” comments René Capote, senior technical expert at Agraya GmbH. “Producers need management practices that help protect workers, safeguard resources, and maintain productivity under increasingly volatile conditions.” Capote highlights five areas that deserve particular attention:
1. Understanding heat as a business risk
Heat stress affects multiple parts of farm operations and must be addressed through structured risk management. Producers should include heat as a potential health and safety hazard in the farm’s risk assessment and identify the areas of their operations most vulnerable to extreme temperatures. High temperatures can affect workers, infrastructure, day-to-day operations, and even the application and effectiveness of plant protection products and fertilizers. Regular risk assessments, reviewed at least annually, help producers adapt practices before disruptions occur.
2. Preparing the workforce for extreme heat
Labor-intensive fruit and vegetable farming relies heavily on healthy, productive workers, especially during critical harvesting periods. Long exposure to high temperatures affects concentration, physical performance, and well-being, increasing the risk of heat-related illness and workplace accidents, which can ultimately lead to operational disruptions. Adjusting work start times during heat waves, alongside breaks, shade, and access to drinking water, can help reduce heat exposure while maintaining productivity.
3. Strengthening water stewardship
Water is a critical resource, and droughts and heat waves place additional pressure on its availability. Good water management helps producers assess risks, identify potential disruptions, and prepare for disruptions before they occur. A comprehensive water strategy should evaluate sources, irrigation systems, distribution networks, and environmental impacts while supporting long-term efficiency.
4. Using farm data to irrigate more effectively
Although higher temperatures often increase water demand, irrigation decisions should be based on local conditions and reliable data. Tools such as drip irrigation systems, soil-moisture sensors, and weather forecasting data can help farmers apply water more precisely, improving water-use efficiency while supporting crop health and productivity. Effective water management may also involve selecting more suitable crop varieties, or where appropriate, considering crops better adapted to local climate and water availability.
5. Preparing for a hotter future
The latest heat wave offers producers in Europe an important lesson: Heat management is part of continuous improvement, connecting workforce management, water stewardship, infrastructure planning, and business continuity. As growing conditions become more challenging, producers can strengthen preparedness by regularly reviewing practices, assessing infrastructure needs, and incorporating heat management into long-term business planning. This can include regularly updating risk assessments, reviewing water and irrigation strategies, and identifying measures that can help the farm respond more effectively to rising temperatures.
Building resilience through continuous improvement
No on-farm practice or technology can prevent a heatwave, but producers can use a range of tools and adaptation measures to reduce its impact. Farm assurance systems provide producers with a path to prepare for and respond to challenging growing conditions. Modern standards enable a structured approach to risk assessment, worker well-being, water management, and continuous improvement. They provide a practical framework for identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening day-to-day farm management.
“Independent, verified standards are powerful tools that help producers navigate the growing challenges posed by climate change,” states René Capote. “Established frameworks, such as GLOBALG.A.P., already support better decision-making on farms. Looking ahead, our Environmental Sustainability Solution (ESS) is being developed to help producers address challenges such as heat stress, water management, and resource efficiency through a structured and scalable approach.”
