France is grappling with a severe farming crisis, as national inflation has dramatically increased potato prices, affecting various potato-based products. The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reported a nearly 23% rise in potato prices within a year, as Liam Doyle and Maria Ortega reports for the Express.
By September 2023, a kilo of potatoes cost €2.09, a significant increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the “worst harvest in 30 years,” with farmers citing poor crop yields. Factors like the Ukraine war impacting fertilizer availability and rising energy costs, coupled with damaging heatwaves, have severely affected potato growth.
The crisis has disrupted the French supply chain, leading to a 50% hike in prices for potato processors buying potatoes from growers. Contracts between growers and manufacturers have become 36% more expensive, with no immediate relief in sight.
The ongoing climate change poses additional threats, like flooding and continued droughts, further jeopardizing future crops.
Source: Express. Read the full story here
Photo: Credit Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay
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