How is climate change affecting the seasonal cycle of agricultural crops across Europe?

Key messages

(20 Dec 2016)

• The flowering of several perennial and annual crops has advanced by about two days per decade during the last 50 years.
• Changes in crop phenology are affecting crop production and the relative performance of different crop species and varieties. The shortening of the grain-filling phase of cereals and oilseed crops can be particularly detrimental to yield.
• Shortening of the growth phases of many crops is expected to continue, but this may be altered by selecting other crop cultivars and changing planting dates, which in some cases can lead to longer growth periods.

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