漫长炎夏导致农业减产 欧洲地区遭遇土豆危机

The chips are down
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Europe’s great potato crisis
欧洲地区遭遇土豆危机

A long, hot summer has left tattie crops in tatters
漫长炎夏导致农业减产

EUROPE faces a potato crisis. Around 53m tonnes of spuds are harvested in the EU each year. Germany, the biggest producer, usually digs up 10m-12m tonnes. But thanks to a dry summer, the tubers have come a cropper.
据英国《经济学人》网站10月4日的消息：欧洲正面临一场土豆危机。欧盟的土豆年收获量约为5300万吨。德国是欧盟最大的土豆出产国，通常年产量为1000-1200万吨。但由于这个干燥的夏天，这些块茎作物大幅减产。

On September 26th Germany’s agriculture ministry announced a harvest 25% smaller than usual. This year’s spuds are littler and denser than normal. Belgians are feeling less than chipper over rumours that their beloved frites may now be one-third shorter as a result. But these fears are small fry compared with the wider implications.
9月26日，德国农业部宣布收成同比减少了25%。同往年相比，今年的土豆个头更小，质地更硬。比利时人对此感到不满，因为有传言称，他们所爱的炸薯条可能会比往常的短小1/3。但与此事引发的更广泛的影响相比，这些担忧是微不足道的。

Climate change is at the root of the problem. “Farmers noticed that wet and dry periods are getting closer together,” says Katja Börgermann of the German Farmers’ Association. In 2003 Europe experienced a “once in a century” drought. Fifteen years later it has endured another. It is hard for farmers to adapt fast enough. They could develop better irrigation systems, and new crop strains could be bred to resist drought. But such things take time.
气候变化是这一问题的根源。德国农民协会的卡蒂亚-博格曼（Katja Borgermann）表示:“农民们注意到，旱涝的周期越来越短”。2003年，欧洲经历一场“百年一遇”的干旱，而在15年后却再次遭遇。农民们很难迅速地适应过来。尽管他们能够开发出更好的灌溉系统和培育出抗干旱的农作物新品种，但这需要耗费时间。

Carb-lovers may have to pay more for their mash. This has happened before. In 1976 potato production fell by roughly 40% as temperatures soared. Prices soared with them—by Christmas, potatoes in Britain cost six times their normal price. These days consumers have more choice, and other starchy options such as pasta and noodles have reduced demand for the humble spud. But bad weather has also caused wheat yields to fall in Europe this year, and previous reductions in the acreage devoted to growing potatoes mean there were fewer tubers to go round in the first place. Already, potato prices have risen in Spain. McCain Foods, a potato-processor, has raised its prices by 20%. Consumers who know their onions are cheesed off.
淀粉质食物爱好者可能要被迫支付更多的费用。这种情况曾发生过。1976年，随着气温的上升，土豆产量同比下降了约40%。价格也水涨船高，英国境内的土豆价格在圣诞节前夕竟是往常的六倍。如今的消费者有了更多选择，意大利通心粉和面条等淀粉类食品的选项减少了公众对普通土豆的需求。但恶劣的天气也引发了欧洲小麦的减产，而此前用于种植土豆面积的缩小，意味着最初种植的块茎类作物的不足。西班牙的土豆价格已上涨。土豆加工商麦凯恩食品公司已提价20%。内行的消费者是彻底绝望了。

A quick fix could be found through trade. Already, potato trading between EU countries is common, but most of the rice eaten in Europe is imported, whereas only a small proportion of potatoes come from outside the EU. Some say that more open markets would ensure that if the harvest fails in one country, appetites could still be met. But try telling that to the guardians of the common agricultural policy in Brussels. They see any market opening as the thin end of the wedge.
通过贸易解决是一种短期应急。目前欧盟国家间的土豆贸易已很普遍，欧洲的食用米大多是进口的，但只有很少部分的土豆来自欧盟外部。有些人认为，更开放的市场可以确保一个国家在遭遇农业歉收时，粮食供应仍能得到满足。不过，你要试着告诉欧盟共同农业政策的守护者这一点。因为他们视任何形式的市场开放都为祸乱之端。（译：李里里）

https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/10/06/europes-great-potato-crisis

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