Extreme Temperatures Disrupt Agricultural Calendar and Harvest Quality

October 29, 2026 · AA Yeşil Hat

Consecutive temperature records broken in the first eight months of 2024, according to Copernicus data, pose serious risks to agricultural yields, flavor profiles, and food security.

Extreme Heat and Meteorological Records

Drought and precipitation imbalances experienced globally are fundamentally disrupting the agricultural production calendar and crop physiology. According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, part of the European Union, global average temperatures in the June-August 2024 period were recorded 0.69 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. During the spring months, excess temperatures reached 0.73 degrees in March, 0.67 in April, and 0.65 in May. The breaking of temperature records on 162 out of the 244 days in the first eight months of the year has led to unusual shifts in the developmental stages, flavor profiles, and harvest periods of fruits.

Rising Food Demand and Disease Risk

With population growth, global food demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2050 compared to the early 2000s. However, changing climate conditions are intensifying pest pressure in fields, making it harder to meet this target. Rising temperatures are exacerbating critical disease risks such as insect infestations, fungal infections, and mold in agricultural areas. While crops must be harvested free from biological and chemical risks to protect consumer health, climate stress is causing significant disruptions in the chain of access to safe food.

Quality Loss in Geographically Indicated Products

Extreme weather events and regional drought waves directly threaten the unique characteristics of local agricultural and animal products. Registered products, renowned for their distinct taste and quality attributes derived from a specific region's climate, soil, and traditional production techniques, are at risk of losing these characteristics due to changing environmental conditions. As it becomes more difficult to protect registered agricultural products that source their raw materials from local ecosystems, yield declines weaken both rural economies and the local brand power of producers.

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