German Hop Farmers Face Severe Crisis as Beer Consumption Declines

Falling global demand, climate challenges, and surplus production drive price collapse and threaten livelihoods.

Hop prices have plummeted by up to 90% over the past two years, severely impacting German hop farmers' profitability.
Germany, the world's leading hop producer, may lose 2,000 to 3,000 hectares of hop-growing land out of its total 20,000 hectares in the coming years, according to industry leaders.
Declining global beer consumption, miscalculations by major breweries, and the effects of climate change are cited as major contributing factors to the crisis.
While the 2024 hop harvest was above average, surplus production of alpha acids, a key hop component, has led to oversupply and further price drops.
Farmers are exploring long-term solutions, including water-saving irrigation projects and adapting hop varieties to withstand climate change, but many family-run farms may still shut down.