The heat wave that has been affecting France since June 20th has intensified concerns among sugar beet producers about the development of the 2026/27 crop. In addition to the impacts on the population, the high temperatures and lack of rain are beginning to increase the risk of losses in the country's main producing regions. France, the largest sugar beet producer in the European Union, is facing a scenario of water stress in its crops. According to farmers, the continuation of dry weather in the coming weeks could significantly compromise crop productivity. "Water is fundamental for sugar beet. If it doesn't rain in the next two weeks, it will be catastrophic," said Franck Sander, president of the Confédération Générale des Planteurs de Betteraves (CGB), in an interview with Reuters. According to Météo-France, there is no rain forecast for the main beet-producing areas around Paris and in the north of the country until at least July 14th. According to Sander, the situation still varies between regions. While some crops are already showing dry leaves due to the heat and lack of moisture, others are still better able to withstand the adverse weather conditions. In its latest projection released on June 26, the European Commission estimated sugar production in the European Union at 14.13 million tons in the 2026/27 crop year, a volume 15% lower than that recorded in the previous cycle. The reduction is attributed to a combination of a 9% drop in the area cultivated with sugar beet and a 6.5% decrease in the expected average productivity.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.