The challenges posed by drought and heat have deepened, especially in the production of hops (the main ingredient of beer) in Austria and Germany. Farmers in key areas such as Mühlviertel in Austria and Franconia in Germany are facing serious problems. Stefan Hofer, head of the hops farmers' cooperative in Mühlviertel, says: "The heat and dryness have had a heavy impact on us. Some of my plants have completely failed."
Impact of Drought on Hops Production
While farmers in Austria are struggling to maintain their crops, a similar situation exists in Germany. In Bavaria, which is one of the largest hop producers in the world, drought has become a major challenge. The town of Spalt in this state, along with three other regions, supplies about 40 percent of the world's hop production. With increasing drought, farmers are facing serious problems in securing water and growing plants.
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Solutions to Water Challenges
Farmers are looking for solutions to cope with these problems. One of the main solutions is the establishment of irrigation systems. In Mühlviertel, irrigation systems have been installed on about 20 percent of the hop cultivation land. In Bavaria, larger projects are also being planned. For example, in the Spalter Hügelland region, a system has been designed to store water from the Fränkische Rezat River in reservoirs to irrigate about 400 hectares of hop farms during dry months.
However, irrigation alone cannot solve the problems. Manol Starlinger, CEO of the hops farmers' cooperative in Mühlviertel, warns that "just turning on the tap is not enough." Instead, the beer industry is looking for new sources to supply its raw materials. One of these materials, barley, has been affected by drought.
Farmers are also exploring new options for barley cultivation. Spring barley, which is typically used for beer production, is vulnerable to drought. In contrast, winter barley, which is planted in October, benefits from autumn and winter moisture and has better growth progress. Additionally, tests are being conducted to determine whether winter barley is suitable for beer production.
In light of these challenges, the Terrathesis project at the University of Film in Bawlsberg is examining the impacts of climate change on agriculture and the beer industry. This project, supported by the Volkswagen Foundation, aims to connect science, agriculture, and the beer industry and will continue until the end of 2029.
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