Farmers across France's eastern Alsace region are increasingly cultivating drought-tolerant crops—lentils, chickpeas and quinoa—as persistent heatwaves and reduced rainfall alter traditional agricultural practices.
The climate is changing rapidly, farmer Benoît Dufay said, adding that higher temperatures and severe drought are reshaping what can be grown. Dufay spoke to the Belgian newspaper De Morgen.
France's maize crop faces a sharp reduction this year. Farmers and analysts fear production could drop by a third, potentially marking the smallest harvest in 35 years.
Scorched fields and decimated livestock have become common across French farms. Poultry farmers are reporting substantial losses as extreme heat stresses animals.
Farmers are racing to harvest cereals before tinder-dry fields spark fires. Traditional crops are struggling to survive.
Lentils, chickpeas and quinoa require less water and fewer pesticides than crops traditionally grown in the region, making them viable alternatives in a hotter climate. Farmers have begun calling them "green gold."
The French government has introduced emergency measures to support farmers, including faster crop insurance payments for those affected by drought. Officials are also monitoring crop and livestock damage more closely and planning earlier water restrictions to reduce future shortfalls.
Farmers are adjusting their practices to maintain production as conditions change.
