Shocking crop losses: Türkiye meets hazelnuts with frost!

Shocking crop losses: Türkiye meets hazelnuts with frost!

late frost in Turkey has severely impaired the hazelnut harvest and increased the wholesale price for the coveted nut by over a third since the beginning of the year. According to Vol.at , the harvest has decreased by around 36 percent, which is described as "one of the worst agricultural frost in the history of Türkiye". Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumakli Wist indicates the devastating consequences of the night frosts at the end of April, which destroyed flowers and shoots.

Turkey is responsible for around 60 percent of the global hazelnut requirement, and the state grade is predicted that only 450,000 tons of hazelnuts can be harvested. At the current price of around 9,400 euros per ton, many chocolate manufacturers are under pressure, including well -known brands such as Ritter Sport, Lindt & Sprüngli and Kölln. Some companies therefore rethink their recipes to reduce the proportion of expensive hazelnuts and could increasingly switch to almonds that are more attractive in terms of price.

working conditions and sustainability

The increasing prices of the hazelnuts also raise questions about the working conditions in Turkey. A report by SRF addresses the precarious situation of hiking workers, often under bad living conditions work. Child labor cannot be excluded. Organizations such as Rainforest Alliance are committed to offering hazelnut builders and workers better working and living conditions. The focus is on the prevention and remedial of child labor and the improvement of the general income situation.

With the Happy Hazelnut program , the retailer Migros wants to have all the unprocessed hazelnuts from Turkey Rainforest Alliance certification. Coop sets similar standards and is committed to expanding organic hazeln nuts. Both companies emphasize that child labor in Turkey is officially prohibited, but cannot be completely excluded.

climate change and future of agriculture

climate change also has a significant impact on agriculture and global nutritional security. According to information from bildungserver.de , up to 80 percent of the population are dependent on agriculture. Extremes and temperature changes could reduce agricultural production and cause great damage in tropical and subtropical regions.

The increasing world population, which will increase by three billion by 2050, requires a significant increase in production. Therefore, technologies such as artificial fertilization and pesticides will play an increasingly central role in meeting the challenges of climate change in agriculture. An important point remains the responsibility of the companies to work for the environment and social standards, while they at the same time take into account the increasing costs through natural events and trading dynamics.