Italy and Greece, key players in global kiwi production, face challenges due to climate variability. The Mediterranean climate, once ideal for kiwi cultivation, now presents obstacles. According to European Food Agency News, local producers report a decline in yields attributed to unstable conditions and climate-driven diseases.
In Italy, kiwi output has halved over the past decade. EFA News highlights climate instability as a contributing factor. In Greece, flooding in Thessaly destroyed 3,000 of 7,000 kiwi acres, as reported by the National Herald. "Fruit and vegetables are the sector most exposed to the effects of climate change," stated Raffaele Drei, president of Fedagripesca Confcooperative, via EFA News.
Kiwis are a major export for the Mediterranean, with livelihoods dependent on the region's climate. Greek kiwi harvester Antonis Anastasiou noted to the National Herald the importance of air humidity and soil fertility, both threatened by climate change. This poses risks to global supply and pricing.
Other crops face similar issues; Italian pear production dropped from 800,000 tons in 2015 to 184,000 tons in 2023, as per EFA News. These disruptions indicate broader ecological threats.
In response, Greek farmers await government aid for flood recovery, according to Reuters. Italy's Fedagripesca Confcooperative suggests easing pesticide regulations to mitigate environmental impacts, though this approach is debated.
Source: TCD
