Slovenia’s potato harvests shrink amid European drought
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In northeastern Slovenia, residents of Lipovci gathered for their 26th annual international festival of roasted potatoes, even as the country faces lower potato yields due to drought.
Farmers and potato enthusiasts from across Slovenia came together to celebrate the dish, a national staple with roots dating back to a 1767 decree encouraging its cultivation. However, the celebration took place against a backdrop of declining harvests.
The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia estimates potato losses of 30 to 90 percent this year, a result of the widespread droughts affecting Europe. Slovenia only produced about one-third of the potatoes its population consumes in 2025, and production continues to fall due to factors like rising fertilizer costs and restrictions on pesticides. Farmers reported significant losses, with one farmer in Velike Lasce losing half of their potato crop.
Beyond Slovenia, the United Kingdom’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) projects a 3.1 million tonne reduction in potato harvests across major exporting countries including Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The ECIU stated that “the chips are well and truly down” for potato growers facing climate change. Despite the challenges, Slovenians continue to value potatoes as a key part of their culture and diet, with many families growing their own and incorporating them into daily meals.
