Europe's farmers look to a future of long-term drought | DW Business

Much of Europe has suffered through repeated heat-waves in recent weeks. And that's hit economies hard, whether through reduced river-traffic, dried-up farm fields or destructive wildfires. It's a taste of what warming temperatures could bring the continent in the years ahead.
Southern Europe in particular is vulnerable to climate change. A map from the World Wildlife Fund shows the water scarcity risk across Europe over the next 30 years.
According to the WWF, the number of Euoropeans living in regions of water scarcity will gradually increase. In Spain, Italy and elsewhere across the Mediterranean, that's a problem.
According to the WWF, the number of people living in water-scarce regions in Europe will increase by 50 percent by 2050.
The threat of drought is likely to grow, along with its impact. That's bad news for farmers. Here in Germany they are eyeing a poorer harvest than usual. High temperatures and low rain levels are only part of the problem.
Subscribe: kzbin.info...
For more news go to: www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Facebook: / deutschewellenews
►Twitter: / dwnews
►Instagram: / dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: / dwdeutsch
#Drought #WaterScarcity #Agriculture

[@nuomitang30]

If the heatwave is not enough to ring the bell. The starvation will.

[@Groggybandito]

Nothing will make cons believe climate change is real,

[@Daniel-qr6sx]

Some people will never understand

[@Tmb1112]

Nah. If starvation happens we’ll just blame the Russians.

[@blank.9301]

Ecosia 👍🌱🌳

[@stefanadamek367]

THIS

[@RikuLeppanen]

Here in the German Mosel wine region some of the wine makers are already moving to making red wine, instead the usual white wines. The red wine grapes, like Merlot have a better chance of surviving the heat.

[@lorebrown5307]

If they are deeply mulched the vines will fare better

[@KA-jm2cz]

Have to be good red wine then.

[@jamesp8459]

Typically grapes produce better wine when they're stressed but I doubt these weather conditions are what vintners had in mind. Interesting point you brought up. Beside Merlot is my favorite.

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

Americans and European people must change their living life style! An average American's ecological footprint is so large that if every person on earth start living like a average American or European then we would need resources of 3 earth to fulfill each and everyone's need... Growing trees won't work until Americans won't change their life style..

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@@jamesp8459 only so much stress is good

[@maxd3028]

Rain harvesting, permaculture, advanced irrigation systems, efficient water treatment plants ,mega reforestation projects in the Sahara all those compined is the solution ..the best time to proceed was 20 years ago next best time is now

[@awpetersen5909]

Good

[@davidwestwater2219]

I don't think there's a single tree in the Sahara

[@blank.9301]

Ecosia 👍🌱🌳

[@thefuture12]

yeah and reducing activities that cause global warming..

[@andrasm.5119]

there are fronts bringing massive rain over all of Europe.... stop manipulating the climate with cheap metal chemicals....

[@WhiteDragon689]

This means that present day agricultural methods have to change to utilize water more efficently.

[@Diogenes_43]

Why bother. They can just regulate farmers off their land through “green” policies and reduce demand by starving everyone.

[@Daniel-gs9eh]

no thank you

[@alvaro701]

@@Daniel-gs9eh There is not alternative.

[@Daniel-gs9eh]

@@alvaro701 forced population reduction

[@mekatronik_albo]

we must reduce wheat and meat production and promote agroforestry and fruit consumerism otherwise we are doomed.The soil will go exctinct in 2060 we lose 1 ENTIRE Greece yearly of farmable land according to UN.

[@kenhunt5153]

Where I live in the States, my State has 65% of its water used to grow alfalfa. Center pivot uses 900 gallons/minute. They still use flood irrigation to grow corn. The best practices of Israel and The Netherlands should be used. Permaculture practices deserve more respect too. Swales, basins, one rock dams, Zuni bowls and organic mulch need to be used more. As Brad Lancaster says, "plant the rain."

[@daisuke3145]

Israel's as in desalination plant?

[@Diana1000Smiles]

Western Montana is in permanent drought, and, alfalfa (animal feed) is grown in a farmer's field near my home being constantly irrigated. 😳 He gets 4 harvests a year, too, because of Global warming. GMO crops are illegal in some countries but, ofcourse not in the USA.

[@suchartklaysaeng7875]

@@JOHNDANIEL1 Stop breathing too. Problem solved.

[@J0erip0eri]

The best practices of The Netherlands?! There is massive drought here ànd heavy pollution thanks to Dutch farmers.

[@isa_L]

if i could send the rain here to you, i will, here is rain in every season, boring

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

Americans and European people must change their living life style! An average American ecological footprint is so large that if every person on earth start living like a average American or European then we would need resources of 3 earth to fulfill each and everyone's need... Growing trees won't work until Americans won't change their life style..

[@XXFL4MINGD34THR4GEXX]

We have changed to paper straws and paper bags. Have we not suffered enough???

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

If we have a summer like this year next year, we will know we are in trouble and will need to adapt, and quick!

[@simplyyellow6240]

yep...start brought camel to adaptise with new environment.

[@Daniel-qr6sx]

Well we will get a summer like this every year...

[@ledpup]

Difficult to adapt to a moving and still poorly understood target though. We will, however, suffer.

[@ledpup]

@@Daniel-qr6sx we know for sure this isn't correct. In 5, 10 and 20 years people will look back on this year as a good and mild year compared to what's coming.

[@flaviohaggis4817]

it would be already too late.

[@aditya-ml6km]

Meanwhile, some places in India are experiencing the worst floods in decades. It's raining like crazy even in the desert areas.

[@mozi3051]

Thats what climate change is. Most people think only that the planet is warming. Not only so. There is a balance and human settlements were built to take adavantage of certain resources in a given locale. It upending that. In northern kenya its the worst drought in decades but in southern kenya lakes are increasing in size, eating people's houses even joining together.

[@nggd2259]

@@mozi3051 The weather around the world is getting worse. I believe many countries need to set up desalination plants. I advise everyone to work together to solve global warming. The world population may end decreasing in a decade or two. Stay safe🙂

[@mozi3051]

@@nggd2259 am afraid very much about localized wars of the most horrific nature spreading i to peaceful areas. The world is about to go thru some things

[@nggd2259]

@@mozi3051 I rather die by pandemic than fight in a senseless war. I prefer to die with a clear moral concious.

[@hristohristov777]

Every year will be worse than the other, we had time to adapt but we didn't take any serious actions and now is simply too late! Congrats to all!

[@DanA-nl5uo]

The future of food security looks more like the victory gardens from the past

[@Daniel-gs9eh]

did they use GMO crops too?

[@DanA-nl5uo]

@@Daniel-gs9eh considering it was WWII England I would say no

[@guesswho6038]

So it's best time to force Dutch farmers to reduce production and livestock. Great way to improve food security, especially when everything can be blamed on the "climate crisis". Utter madness.

[@DanA-nl5uo]

@@guesswho6038 what kind of a strawman argument is that when i said people should plant a garden???

[@guesswho6038]

@@DanA-nl5uo I understand victory gardens were intended to tackle food shortage. It was wartime, but now they seem to create this problem artificially.

[@kennySg101]

Water shortage is here. World is years behind in water investment both drinking and agri water.

[@saintracheljarodm.holy-kay2560]

Millet is pretty good tasting, actually. Might I also suggest a crop rotation with plants that produces nitrogen that can be tilled back into the soil, rather than man made fertilizers. This way there not contaminating water ways with fertilizers, but managing waterways more carefully. And growing some crops in green houses as well.

[@gerryhouska2859]

Consider no till farming.

[@saintracheljarodm.holy-kay2560]

@@gerryhouska2859 or rolling in the fall a few days after a rain fall, to compost .

[@kennethyoung1164]

We can already grow our own foods, there called gardens not farms.

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

Americans and European people must change their living life style! An average American's ecological footprint is so large that if every person on earth start living like a average American or European then we would need resources of 3 earth to fulfill each and everyone's need... Growing trees won't work until Americans won't change their life style..

[@sootuckchoong7077]

Gotta make green houses all over the country.

[@briangarrow448]

I don’t know about agriculture practices in Europe, but here in the Western United States, we may have to look at changing irrigation systems and curtailing the production of some agricultural products. Growing rice in the deserts of Arizona is a prime example.

[@suchartklaysaeng7875]

Growing rice in AZ, how to grow?

[@julianshepherd2038]

If you are young, move north ASAP

[@simplyyellow6240]

@@suchartklaysaeng7875 plant it to the ground and then watering it.

[@user-fi2fk2ei7o]

@@simplyyellow6240 feltilizer, or your plant will grow like snail

[@Groggybandito]

What needs to happen in America is Texas needs to stop using all the water.

[@backhandgrip23]

Just to let any Europeans know, we have had the driest last 3 weeks here in the Eastern USA. I don't know if that is coming your way or not, but it has been really sunny and dry! Maybe prepare?

[@isa_L]

here in indonesia alot more rain than usual temperature is hot 25-33

[@unconventionalideas5683]

They have not been dry here in South Carolina though. Just last night I was completely drenched. But it is always dry during August in much of the Northeastern US.

[@RK-cj4oc]

The last 3 weeks have been dry here in western europe too. Its not coming our way it was at the same time.

[@julianshepherd2038]

It's getting wetter and windier in Scotland as well as warmer.

[@eaman11]

Yep, I guess that in Russia and Canada they are happy as well.

[@smefour]

Weather bands are moving further north and compressing into small zones

[@joshuamills7633]

@@smefour yep

[@Omer1996E.C]

Just before minutes, Addis Ababa experienced the greatest hailstorm for itself in decades

[@SillhouetteSonata]

I think I see how hail could be mixed with fire now

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

Americans and European people must change their living life style! An average American's ecological footprint is so large that if every person on earth start living like a average American or European then we would need resources of 3 earth to fulfill each and everyone's need... Growing trees won't work until Americans won't change their life style..

[@mathisnotforthefaintofheart]

@@nikhildhasmana6676 Asians and Africans must have less babies. It goes both ways. Is it a surprise that so many of those want to come to Europe and the US? And then they live the same as anyone else? We need to consume less (meat) and we need less people overall.

[@vinniechan]

There's no need to reinvent the wheel Just copy and paste what Singapore is doing to manage their water

[@suchartklaysaeng7875]

What does SIN, money laundry country, do?

[@bl5752]

Yet, Germany has decided to switch back to coal and turn off its nuclear plants during the current political crisis. This is all madness.

[@mizzo8341]

Good for Germany! That nuclear waste will poison the water and no one will be able to use it again.

[@yakshi0078]

Germans were considered intelligent till 90's - what happened to the new generation?

[@DrScarface74]

@@yakshi0078 they joined west 😄

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

@B L Germany decided to shut down its nuclear reactors in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. That was years before the current political conflict.

[@christinalynn8143]

Every farmer should have a system of drought resistance, so far as their heart is in 'feeding/farming'. God bless and help the world's farmers. 🙌

[@eyeswideshot7347]

They want 2DESTROY ALl* farming!

[@videolux8k861]

System of drought resistance ? 😅😅

[@eyeswideshot7347]

@@videolux8k861 Yes SIMply BY DRINGking* more DRAUGHT bEer!

[@beowolf19751]

Amen!

[@eyeswideshot7347]

@@beowolf19751 ocCult

[@JaySmith91]

Hey DW - Did you use text-to-speech for this narration? The audio sounds remarkably like a voice on play ht ... powered by machine learning...

[@WTH1812]

1975 movie "3 Days of the Condor" ended with the question, "What happens when people are running out of water?" 50 years later we are finding out.

[@cancerino666]

Could you share the source for the water scarcity map? Just for reference.

[@beatjunkybg]

For some reason the maps show water scarcity in Bulgaria... which is not true, it's really more like water mismanagement with water loss of more than 50% before reaching the consumers... also mismanagement of some dams in the country

[@rado_grami]

There's still water although less. We are also very dumb at managing it..

[@ryanrex297]

“The ground is sandy and full of rocks.” Maybe that’s the first sign that you’re farming in the wrong area.

[@johannesantila5738]

Or maybe it's a sign one has ploughed, cultivated and exhausted the soil out of organic matter

[@videolux8k861]

@@johannesantila5738 your comment its make more sense.

[@videolux8k861]

Or maybe Factories are making just worse and worse by selling to them man mad fertiliser and poisoning the Soil and Air with chemicals.

[@ryanrex297]

@@johannesantila5738 sure but what’s meant by my comment is give that area a rest. No wonder you need so many imputs, your soil is barren.

[@auldfouter8661]

@@ryanrex297 Land is expensive in Germany , fallowing is not such a great idea. A grass break would help , but then livestock are required and all the know nothings are against that.

[@dozydog9874]

lack of water management Should be discussed before any conclusions are reached on floods or droughts..

[@jeanpauldelachaumette2409]

Been there and done that. We had a huge water crisis in the Western Cape. Nobody helped us and the rest of South Africa didn't care. We made it. Moral of the story. Manage the water responsibly.

[@polysporin8332]

thank god its raining now. but it hasn't been raining for 2 months this summer. 😥😥

[@Cryptonymicus]

And if the equatorial regions get too hot for human survival, what then? Mass migration on a scale never seen in human history.

[@deniseproxima2601]

No place to go in the future. It's all full of human and houses.

[@NashHinton]

That's already happening. LOL.

[@gojo76]

Well let’s see if the world’s governments will keep ignoring this issue

[@Diana1000Smiles]

How long you gonna wait before accepting personal responsibility for Climate Change? (I actually had a coughing fit while texting my question. Wildfires produce lots of smoke, did you know?)

[@lawrencekling8598]

Then we're doomed

[@JoeyBlogs007]

Mother nature shouting out loud !!!

[@asan1050]

Thanks!

[@jaakkokorhonen]

Thanks for ruling out Nordics from the picture. But that is not all of Europe, even if you are talking like it was.

[@nenasiek]

Was gonna comment the same, this is not the first time they do it either :(

[@nenasiek]

@@Just_another_Euro_dude it is a problem for us.

[@hydroac9387]

I'm glad some farmers are rethinking conservation and better methods to preserve and enhance soil.

[@khankrum1]

How about reducing the population? less mouths to feed!

[@lattehour]

phenomenal drought and humity in east europe now i never ever seen so much

[@spiritualknight704]

Wanna dig up pharoahs hood for Europe

[@BCSTS]

@F Swimmblader these types of replies are not intelligent or useful....why not respectfully make your point, by explaining?

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

05:20 - That wheat field is shot. Any grain will only be good for animal feed. Or plough it all back in the ground in autumn and try again, maybe winter barley, or turnips.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Animal feed is not worthless.

[@ricardomorais420]

1:29 from where?!

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Thank you very much DW for the careful reporting and thoughtful interview technique on this topic that affects all of us.

[@eyeswideshot7347]

THeANKorWATsymBOLofEGYPT REport' THOD=fart INTERview US=WEakneß*

[@williamhenry8914]

It’s annoying when the news thinks it’s ok to say ‘increase of 50%’ without saying how many people that would amount to. Your journalism is pie in the sky if you don’t give figures.

[@papuqa6873]

From Costa Rica, all my support dutch farmers :3

[@sajumathew5941]

It's raining heavily in my place now

[@Nanamka]

"hirse" is quite a common grain where I am from. It is good, nutrient, a Nordic superfood. Really, why not grow it?

[@lothean2099]

Just imagine what the winters are going to be like.

[@teej898]

Planting trees will eliminate drought by keeping the soil from eroding and at the same time prevent flooding by retaining water

[@dusanignjatov7658]

That would not help at all bcs there are no water!

[@M.P.T.1.2.3]

Coldest summer i can remeber, this year here in Portugal. We only had 3 or 4 days of high temperatures, usual during summer, espcially when wind blows from North (during the Day), but not extreme ones. Not at all. What is this histeria?

[@dalewolver8739]

Every observable study detailing dates seems to be worse than those expected. The current temperatures and droughts were not expected till 2050 and yet here they are. I would dare say the a lot more than 50% will be affected by 2050. In fact it would be surprising if 10% of the population is still alive at that date

[@suportbghelp4938]

Its funny people still belive of this official information.They lie for everything.

[@videolux8k861]

True Man!

[@ANDIBO987]

Yeah!! Stop pretending anybody has any clue what’s going to happen! Things are happening way faster than predicted

[@joshuamills7633]

Yeah, things happen slower than predicted until you reach a certain point where they will happen faster than predicted

[@MelkorPT]

Do not, my friends, become addicted to water. It will take hold of you, and you will resent its absence!

[@simplyyellow6240]

Yep...bann russian water. Do not support russian war effort by sanction their water.

[@patriot388]

We have plenty here in Australia. Sick to death of the rain! Crazy world!

[@janulf5278]

‘One thing the early explorers, squatters, settlers, and selector’s diaries had in common when describing the land, and landscape of the new world, was the soil: “The consistency of peasy; the waggons would cut through it six and eight inches deep, or more.” Long gone are the days where the native grass of the plains, standing higher than the wagon wheels: brushed the saddles of the horses, and the legs of their riders as they traversed the land’. Introduction to ‘Ground Zero and the Tipping Point’ by Jan Ulf (Book Two (gumroad)

[@Z1BABOUINOS]

The highest rainfall this summer, for at least 2 decades in Greece. I don't have data for further back. As for temperatures, just a normal summer, without extremes. Looks like the projected models did the exact opposite of what expected..... Hmmm!

[@dfofficial9034]

In indonesia rainy has usually occured twice per week in one month, Alhamdulillah better climate than europe currently now

[@sanjaychauhan1116]

Now Americans and Europeans will take action against climate ,earlier they were ignorant about this

[@4DModding]

your 100% right - Just add china to your list

[@NashHinton]

Still waiting on that action.

[@Leptospirosi]

Early this year the Tonga volcano blew up in the Pacific. The anomaly was it poured huge amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere, which is a well known greenhouse factor so high up in the atmosphere. Drought will be increasing in future, but we don't need to keep 2022 as a standard year for what we have to expect in the near future.

[@liamhackett513]

Yeah. The winters are getting milder and milder for the last 20 years. You don't need to be a scientist to notice it.

[@nezhaulcoyotl85]

lol yeah becuase iys been blowing now for the last 50 years ffs this is mostly human error.

[@ColoradoGuitarMan]

After delaying response, mitigation for decades, the question of how to survive a water reckoning still not even close to a solution. Unfortunately this implies much more than no lawns in Southwest U.S. People with generations of more people will migrate only to find, the water necessary for life is not even there.

[@christinalynn8143]

It would seem the best strategy, to approach water retention would be to 'diversify' the water supply. The notion of saving 'our rivers, lakes, wetlands' is nice but can be converted to the implementation of water source on individual properties, as so much as possible, BUT not overdoing it. The restoration of rivers and lakes is also important yet, the use of ponds, (small, medium or large) provides the water is spread through out the land and nourishes the individuals properties as it goes. When it rains, the water spills from the sky, throughout the entire area, where it is raining, thus the pond supply, for example, is renourished, with each rainfall. The initial supply of water for the ponds, streams/creeks, etc may be sources from the water accumulation in rainstorms, once filtered as best possible, or other areas that have more available water. To run low, to run out, NOT an option. Water retention should be the aim. 😥💦💦💦🙃🙂😁

[@BCSTS]

Saw wonderful video by farmer creating 3 ponds..or more on his property...& how he will be able to sustain water supply etc.....try to find on you tube....great video!

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

Americans and European people must change their living life style! An average American's ecological footprint is so large that if every person on earth start living like a average American or European then we would need resources of 3 earth to fulfill each and everyone's need... Growing trees won't work until Americans won't change their life style..

[@christinalynn8143]

@@nikhildhasmana6676 CHANGE. Change changes. Changing. Any individual? Any who are interesting. 👍

[@nikhildhasmana6676]

@@christinalynn8143 nah it won't be possible by only individual efforts. Government and the individuals must come together on this issue and make policy to reduce their ecological footprint

[@christinalynn8143]

@@nikhildhasmana6676 I'd say it is. IF you have ever seen what an individual can do, it's amazing!! That said, it will require to an extent a collective effort of individuals. 🙌 God willing.

[@mikepict9011]

Its so cool how collectively we are exerting 0 effort in our own medium term survival as a species. Clearly we are evolving.

[@mishkosimonovski23]

Time to switch to fruit trees in the drought areas....as they are more economical on water.

[@nickl5658]

What you need is a green house... large plastic domes over the fields to capture water vapor.

[@4DModding]

not practical

[@GreenEarthProject]

1:46 Did this drought start early ? how early

[@debbiehenri345]

We've had 40 years to sort this out, 40 years since the first dire warnings. Yet farmers carried on farming in the same old traditional manner regardless. Barely more than a handful of farmers actually listened and decided to make changes. You see the main problems with those farm fields in Germany at a glance! For starters: the huge size of the fields, with a few grouped trees in the background. That means there's no permanent deep-rooted plants for great distances in order to stop the water table from dropping. (Basic horticultural training taught in every British college - trees keep water tables elevated to normal levels. Remove them and the table falls). The evolution of farm machinery, especially in terms of size and speed, makes it easier to work larger fields quickly, and so more and more hedgerows have been grubbed out over the centuries in favour of making these large fields. And no matter what annual crop you have in the ground, the roots aren't as deep as a tree's, and once it is harvested, those roots die anyway, no longer keeping any water trapped between roots in the upper levels of soil for 'months' until the next crop starts to grow. Another important point - no matter how much chemical fertilizer you sprinkle on a field, it does not replace the planet's natural processes of building and revitalising soils. Look at the German field and you can see its impoverished state just by the colour of it. Light coloured soils are always poorer in terms of nutrition and structure, the darker the soil the richer and better structured it is. Dark soils are full of life, with plenty of moisture retaining humus, natural resources of minerals, fungi, and creatures that live, poop and die in it on a constant basis. If you're turning the soil multiple times every year, you're exposing countless trillions of creatures to UV rays and killing them, or chopping and crushing them, or exposing them to birds who swoop down in their hundreds and gobble them up (ever noticed seagulls following tractors ploughing/harrowing? But how many times do you see as many seagulls in fields with half-grown crops?) Ploughing and harrowing destroys the structure too, loosened soils makes it easier for winds to erode and blow away valuable nutrients, for heavy rains and floods wash them away, and networks of essential underground mycelium that carry nutrients and water from place to place are smashed up by farm machinery until they die out. At home, you wouldn't even consider filling a garden container with lovely fresh compost for a potato crop, harvest them at the end of the season, and then think that you would never need change that soil ever again, just giving it the barest sprinkle of chemical fertiliser, maybe a very quick squirt of liquid cow manure, planting one crop after another in that same container year after year. After about 3 or 4 years, that soil will become paler, look sandier as the humus is absorbed by successive crops, the soil level going down and down. If you did grow your vegetable plants like that - one thing you would notice is that you need to water your plants more often as the soil becomes more depleted of humus. Look on Simply Gardening channel and you will see just how much work goes into restoring the soil in containers meant for raising vegetables. It's a lot of work, and farmers just aren't doing anything like that much. Instead, they have been wearing away at the Earth's soil, depleting its natural resources over millennia, doing the minimum restoration - until now the world's most important agricultural soils have been worn to their last gasp. It was about 3 years ago I read that Europe's agricultural lands have about 30 harvests left in them. But it seems to me that just as scientists have underestimated how quickly climate change would accelerate, so they overestimated how much harvesting potential there is left in agricultural land. We desperately need to restore older methods of farming and combine them with newer ideas regarding permaculture, if we want to save every country's potential for growing its own food. That means getting rid of this ridiculously destructive idea of having huge, easy to harvest super-fields and the huge, ridiculously expensive machines to work them. To better preserve soils, we need to reduce crops to much narrower strips, alternating strips of annual crops with biennials, perennials, permanent bush fruits and orchards. Farms must be much more variable in order to survive, because it's evident that current farming methods are not working and specialising in just one crop over dozens of hectares of open land makes for a very vulnerable one. Had any of these farmers thought to grow their crops in a more Mediaeval way, they would not have had these problems. Sure you can't use these huge machines which one farmer employing no other farmhands can operate on his own - but those machines cost millions, cost thousands in terms of fuel, and thousands more in terms of repairs and essential maintenance, money which could be spent on employing actual people to do the work instead, giving them the money to spend and keep the country's economy going (instead of embarrassing them when they try to claim and live on minimum benefits, making up rules to ensure they're not even eligible).

[@user-zy4wv7yx1z]

Super underrated comment, I hadn't heard about the figure of 30 more harvests left. I think it's important to be able to grow your own food, and to know what wild food you can eat

[@denysvlasenko1865]

Yes, those farmers working those fields for generations, they are so dumb. This keyboard warrior knows better. Going back to medieval farming is surely the key. LOL...

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

There is no water scarcity in Europe as a whole, or the in the EU as a whole. We get plenty of water to go around. In fact, water is so abundant here, that we have focused almost exclusively on how to safely get rid of the excess. Ignoring all the warning signs, policy makers have failed to build the infrastructure required to retain enough water in cooler months to make up for increased demand during warmer months. Furthermore, local authorities governing land use seem to suffer from tunnel vision as well, trying to maximise economic output locally in the short run, without worrying about what this means for the bigger picture, or the long term. Of course, they will all point their fingers to the little man, and claim it's their fault for showering too long and wanting food on the table.

[@antizwets5904]

It is completely irrelevant if there is enough water in Europe 'as a whole'. Sufficient water needs to be available in specific areas at a specific times and you can't just teletransport water from one location to another. There is f.e. also sufficient food produced on this planet 'as a whole' for all people. But because there one group of people has a lot and another which has very few, still millions of people every year starve to death.

[@stevehayes6823]

@@gytoser801 drinking water for wheat?

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

@@antizwets5904 Rather than pretending water is a force of nature out of our control, and moan and wail when there isn't enough water on the Spanish plains during the summer, we should, like I already said, be building water infrastructure that retains water in cooler months, so that we have more available during warmer months, when demand increases. In addition, we totally *can* transport water. It transports itself through gravity. By digging canals, we can also control its direction. If that won't cut it, we can pump some additional water. And indeed, there is no food shortage either. It's just very difficult to transport food to places plagued by violence, where the transport infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed by armed conflicts, and opposing parties would rather have food shipments rot in port than allow their enemies to eat, even if this means sacrificing the lives of innocent civilians. Producing more food is not going to fix this.

[@Welgeldiguniekalias]

@@gytoser801 You don't need drinking water to grow crops. Unfiltered ground or surface water will do just fine.

[@christoft5468]

We live on the blue planet 2/3 of the worlds surface is covered with water. Likewise each day the earth receives 10 000x more energy from the sun than we use in a year. I'm sure you know where this is going? We got something pretty damn wrong!

[@CordeliaWagner]

Gratulations to all bredders who say "having children is the strongest expression of hope for the future". Your children have no future.

[@mastermind1852]

South Africa is experiencing Christmas in middle of the year

[@diegoaleixo8206]

A book called "Opportunity in Disguise" taught me that we must learn to squeeze lemons in tragic situations. In terms of renewable energies, in periods of drought we have high availability of solar radiation. Because there is no cloud formation. Idea: how about installing solar panels that feed pumps from artesian wells, even though these are spread across different points of the watershed? The water could be directed to the watercourses in the dry season. In the rainy season, clouds will themselves reduce the efficiency of the pumps. Or even, they can be turned off with the return of the rains.

[@greencoffee8224]

This will cause human migration catastrophic, water is the source of life, human an animal cannot survive without water. This can get vary political amongst country. If we don’t take this serious.

[@readtruth6670]

Use Brawndo. It’s got what plants crave.

[@AzogDefilerFromMordor]

The Age of Men is Over, the Time of the Orc has Come!

[@yusufsyed3678]

Drip Irrigation System to be introduced which can assist in irrigation of Agricultural production

[@davidway4259]

SAME FIGHT SAVE MY LOST SOUL.

[@coraltown1]

It's not a "could bring" future, it's a "definitely will bring" near and present future. It is 'baked in'.

[@kinngrimm]

water desalination plants ftw They wouldn't stop climate change, but help mitigate it till it could be reversed. plus what Mr. Schmiester said about investing in natural water retention. I would go one further though and regulate heavily if not forbid the outtake of water by certain industries if they not in return finance *public* dezalination plants. No matter if its CocaCola or some aluminium factory, there is huge water consumption within the industry which needs to be addressed.

[@jkgambz]

for the amount of water that we consume, what should those plants do with the stuff they remove from water? For every litre of saltwater, you'll get around 35 grams of minerals. For a city of 100,000 people, each one using 100 liters daily (in America the average is closer to 500 litres per day), you'd have to deal with 350 tonnes of minerals per day. If it were all regular salt (NaCl) it's volume would be about 160 cubic meters per day. In terms of weight, 3.5 kgs per resident would be more than what an average human throws away in garbage per day.

[@kinngrimm]

@@jkgambz you may want to search for MIT research results 1-2 years back, which had success in breaking down the brine further which allows for salts and minerals being filterd out on an industrial level so these could be sold of, too. What can not be sold immediatly could be put into depots which are secured in ways so nothing goes into the grounwater. It does not have to be put back into the ocean to destabalize the eco system there. Does that answer your concerns? I am no engineer, nor a scientiest, but from what i gathered in terms of information sofar it seems to be possible now to extract sweet water without adverse effects to nature otherwise, still i might be wrong.

[@edgeldine3499]

largest desalination plant in the western hemisphere is in California, the Carlsbad plant which if i remember supplies enough water for about 400k people. It cost a few billion dollars as well, uses a lot of energy and has waste products that need to be dealt with. Its not exactly the right solution.

[@kinngrimm]

@@edgeldine3499 There is a MIT research paper out there which describes how to extract salts/minerals from the brine which can be sold and so whatever is left afterwards has not that bad of an impact anymore. I would also think that one could make depots which are secure for the groundwater where those extracts could be stored till further use. In australia a big plant opened up 1-2 years ago which its entire energy need is dealt by solar energy and provides water for a smallish city of around 300k if i remember correctly. As these plants would be close to or even in the sea, i would imagin offshore windparks or tidal wave generators could be a good option to be simultaiously be built. Are these huge investements? Sure, still generations to come would profit of them.

[@geminienigma4421]

Uk hit very bad too. And we are normally a wet country

[@ahmadyousuf7064]

I'm in Greece... this year more heat weather. ... more tourists are came to visit Greece ...

[@taylortaylor5854]

I'm to poor

[@mathisnotforthefaintofheart]

It't time to reduce animal farming (or should I say animal factories) and focus more on agriculture. Nothing wrong with a piece of meat or fish once in a while, but meat consumption is totally out of control and animal farming contributes massively to greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.

[@eyeswideshot7347]

*hard* ti/me=FICTion *shud* =ASsumpTION=fantASY Eye=Ego ANY MamMAL AGREedCULTure WHEre' ARE theSE aledGED *grin*house GASes&POLutions?

[@kwakuagyapong2677]

Is the task of v8 v10 v12 and w16 engine

[@alexhouglorytoukraine7203]

is this fine

[@Thinkingaroundthebox]

It always surprises me when they talk about corn in other countries. I've always thought of corn as an American crop. Though that might also be because I live in Iowa, home of the endless corn field. We grow so much of the stuff that we let a quarter of it rot in silo's because selling it would drive prices down to the point that it wouldn't be profitable anymore

[@Dear_Mr._Isaiah_Deringer]

I mean it is a crop of the Americas, just like potatoes but it is regularly grown in Europe. However the actual demand for it as food in Europe is somewhat minuscule so even if the soil/weather would allow for growing it the demand for wheat is just higher. Most of it is grown for feed, for ethanol production but not for sugar since the corn subsidizes and tariffs for cane sugar are both lower than in the States so it's not worth.

[@robertolang9684]

what about giving it to people starving in afrika you amurikons ?

[@RK-cj4oc]

@@robertolang9684 Ah yes. Undercut local food producers by giving free food. Great way to destroy the local economy.

[@Tmb1112]

@@robertolang9684 how would that work? Seriously. From Iowa to Africa, for no money. How would it work?

[@robertolang9684]

@@Tmb1112 helping nations is not about profit is about care about humanity , it always work , fomentation of love generates friends , fomentation of hate generates enemies , giving away free what you possibly will be destroying makes a difference for someone that was dying is like a life saving device in the midle of the desert or sea

[@maje9448]

Fed up

[@jungoogie]

So the question arises if farmers can adapt and change their monoculture practices.

[@perrycomeau2627]

Dad served in the Netherlands.

[@asokt4931]

"Could bring" ??? I believe it has already begun... no?

[@umer1185]

Europe is rich in terms of finance. They should not worry about the water scarcity... as they can use water desalination technique too.

[@blank.9301]

Let's use ecosia 👍🌱🌳

[@drmdmd1]

Cover water reservoir with shades nets or plastic balls, start desalination, quick stop gap measure and work on long term solution

[@eyeswideshot7347]

PROblem SOLution creates just another problem! ESPeCIAlLY when there is no problem in the first place!

[@hclau362]

Your suggestion work about as well as prayers...

[@eyeswideshot7347]

@@hclau362 PREYers? SUCKgueßZION=inFLUenCING

[@valentinomanontroppo4675]

can we please begin to store more water and retain it in the soil? there are permacolture principles that are proven to work.

[@totallyprofessional3571]

That project manager they brought in to speak pretty much said nothing and did not answer any questions. You can tell he was just going through some talking points already pre-planned.

[@peterprentice9179]

so the scientists were correct after all . . .

[@GreenEarthProject]

I want to do this for the whole earth and life age. Life should be increased by raining in dry areas.

[@rosegreensummer]

ok, we can grow millet - but what should the people who now grow millet grow?

[@aras0085]

When you kick the soil in the harvest period, it does not mean drought. It is normal to have dryness of soil at this time.

[@dannyhughes4889]

Cut out growing produce to make food that isn't food. Grow organically from small local producers. Reduce/stop waste as far as possible.

[@getplaning]

Anyone else notice that the usual climate change deniers have all gone silent?

[@E3ECO]

Eventually even they will have to see the writing on the wall. Sadly, that writing will have to be in big crayon colors for them to take notice.

[@NashHinton]

We still have them in the US even while they're having water shortages in California.

[@karlharvey4806]

Time to go hydroponic maybe? Those self sufficient greenhouse type farms

[@clavo3352]

Given the rain cycle and the evaporation comprising part of the rain cycle; and the fact, that most of the rain water comes from evaporated salty ocean water ; Why isn't more salt water swimming pool type recreational facility; and, large building air conditioning cooling being used? Seems like we could have a nice impact on rain if we supplied more surface area above the dry land to create rain cycle cells. Even if they have to cascade to adjacent land masses they can affect global food and water supply. .

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Salt water will rust any iron-steel components.

[@gsomethingsomething2658]

Are you a Martian?

[@clavo3352]

@@huwzebediahthomas9193 It can be 100% plastic; and, fiberglass , and carbon fiber.

[@clavo3352]

@@gsomethingsomething2658 No but I want to be.

[@nggd2259]

It might be a good time to invest more into water desalination plants

[@stefanadamek367]

I heard they generally use insane amount of energy and aren't a good long-term big scale solution.

[@NashHinton]

Not feasible. We're doomed.

[@blank.9301]

Greed is the problem. We need more mono culture farms not massive land invasive one's....

[@kasurottv5603]

They abuse The mother earth pay back Time

[@PhantomWoIf]

seawater desalination plants would solve the problem

[@belaatuk8494]

They know drought will happen but dont know where the drought will hit first.

[@Beregar79]

Cue "We have had hot and dry summers before" and "they (not us) should do something about this" though let's be honest here, I'm going to say the same if I have to start restricting my water use. I live in a country that is third rich in renewable freshwater sources (per capita) in Europe and specifically its most water rich region, also far enough in the north that climate change has had mostly positive effect because summers are now longer and winters warmer, so I don't have anything to worry except potential massive migration of people from countries that actually have issues with drought and excessive heat. Realistically I'm dead before climate change really starts affecting my life. Now the energy crisis and war in ukraine is affecting it more.

[@christopheryoung2874]

Massive drought in California too