After the drought comes the flood: the challenges of climate change facing farmers worldwide are immense. From February 5 through February 7, 2025, the organic importer and producer lehmann natur will address the concerns and challenges of its growers at FRUITLOGISTICA in Berlin and present solutions that will help ensure a stable supply of organic produce in the future.
Prolonged heat, severe flooding, and new plant diseases: Climate change is putting pressure on both conventional and organic farmers worldwide. Take Spain, for example: In July 2024, the country—which is also known as Europe’s vegetable garden—experienced an extraordinary heat wave with temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius. “These extreme conditions significantly impaired the growth of young plants, leading to delays in fall production. As a result, planned deliveries could not be made on time,” says Martin Jacobfeuerborn, Head of Purchasing at lehmann natur.
In October, however, the situation took a dramatic turn: heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in several regions. The regions of Valencia, Andalusia, and Murcia were particularly hard hit. “These storms caused significant damage to agricultural land, with numerous fields flooded and crops destroyed,” said Jacobfeuerborn. The combination of the preceding drought and sudden heavy rainfall also led to massive soil erosion. Imade Lahsani Bouhafa, a specialist for Spain and Africa at lehmann natur, sensed the plight of the producers and the concerns of the customers: “The weather-related challenges in Spain became impossible to manage on a regional basis and led to supply shortages. I expect that we will have to prepare for such events more frequently in the coming years.”
Although their soils are more fertile and can therefore absorb and store more water than those of conventional farmers, many Spanish organic farmers fear for their crops in the face of increasing weather extremes. “Fortunately, our fields aren’t as prone to erosion as those of conventional farmers. But such extremes, coupled with phytosanitary challenges, are pushing us to our limits as well,” reports José, a zucchini grower from Nijar, Almería. This is because plants under extreme weather stress are often more susceptible to diseases and pests. “In Spain, our farmers are battling, among other things, the tomato brown spot virus, the cucumber mosaic virus, and the New Delhi virus in zucchini. Pests such as the whitefly not only damage fruit but also transmit viruses like the tomato leafroll virus from plant to plant. Many of our partners have had to adapt their farming practices to control the spread of diseases and pests,” reports Lahsani Bouhafa.
“It’s impressive to see the dedication with which our Spanish growers are persevering to continue supplying the market with high-quality organic fruits and vegetables despite all these difficulties. As an organic importer and producer, we hope that these efforts will be appropriately recognized,” says Managing Director Raphael Kennerknecht. To fill supply gaps, lehman natur is increasingly sourcing produce from Morocco, Egypt, and Turkey. “Our facility in Turkey is particularly interesting; there, we heat the greenhouses with geothermal energy as needed. This is an innovative and sustainable method that conserves resources while ensuring product quality,” says Yasar Yazici, who heads sales and production at lehmann natur.
At FRUITLOGISTICA, the leading international trade fair for fruits and vegetables in Berlin, lehmann natur will address the challenges facing its growers in light of climate change from February 5 to 7, 2025, and offer solutions to ensure a stable supply of organic produce in the future.
About Lehmann Natur
lehmann natur is an importer of organic, Demeter, Naturland, and permaculture-certified fruits and vegetables. Based in Meerbusch, the company has been committed since 1988 to enabling all consumers to enjoy healthy, flavorful, and organically grown natural products of the highest quality. To meet its high standards for quality and sustainability in logistics as well, the company operates its own organic packing facility in Korschenbroich. Working closely with organic farmers worldwide, lehmann natur designs professional, resilient, fair, and environmentally friendly supply chains that customers and producers can rely on.
Contact person:
Albana Caraj Lehmann Natur Gesellschaft zur Erzeugung und zum Vertrieb ökologischer Produkte mbH Otto-Hahn-Straße 10 40670 Meerbusch Email: presse@lehmann-natur.com Website: www.lehmann-natur.com
Photos from Spain: Storm Damage to Organic Bell Pepper Production