Water shortage threatens crops: UBA calls for urgent measures!

Water shortage threatens crops: UBA calls for urgent measures!

The impending water shortage in Germany and Europe is causing major concerns among environmental authorities and farmers. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) warns urgently: Drought periods not only affect the soil and plants, they also endanger crops. This situation is made even worse by the existing high risk of forest fires in many regions, especially in central Germany. UBA President Dirk Messner points out that agriculture urgently depends on reliable water strategies in order to overcome the challenges of today.

“We all have to learn to use water more economically,” emphasizes Messner. Possible restrictions on private water use, such as garden watering and pool filling, cannot be ruled out in order to counteract the impending crisis. After all, not only do we humans depend on water, but also our food production.

Water use and agricultural challenges

The EU Commission is now going one step further and is planning a comprehensive water strategy to reduce water consumption before the summer, like the DLG reported. The goal is to raise awareness of water as a finite resource – both in industry and among farmers and consumers.

In Europe, agriculture accounts for an impressive 28 percent of water withdrawals. In Germany in particular, there was an increase in irrigated areas of around 50 percent from 2012 to 2022. This development highlights the increasing pressure on water resources, with agriculture currently using 2 percent of the water withdrawn from the natural water cycle.

Water quality under pressure

However, the challenges concern not only the quantity but also the quality of the available water. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), in 2021, only 37 percent of surface waters in the EU achieved “good” ecological status, and only 29 percent included the criteria for good chemical status. This alarming situation is caused by chemicals from industry and agriculture, but also by emerging pollutants such as microplastics that enter waterways through rain and surface runoff.

The European Parliament is pushing for stricter implementation of existing EU directives, such as the Water Framework Directive. There is an urgent need for action to reduce exposure to chemicals or substances that are harmful to health. Citizens and politicians are called upon to tackle this challenge together in order to guarantee future generations an adequate and safe water supply.

In summary, Germany and Europe are facing major challenges in terms of water scarcity. It is now up to all of us to use this valuable resource responsibly and find sustainable solutions.