Stolbur Plant Disease Threatens German Agriculture: Major Losses in Beets, Potatoes, and Vegetables
A fast-spreading plant disease known as Stolbur, transmitted by the reed glasswing leafhopper, is causing massive crop failures across Germany, affecting sugar beets, potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, cabbage, and more. Farmers are warning of a growing agricultural crisis, especially in southern states like Baden-Württemberg, where domestic potato, sugar, and vegetable supplies are now at risk.
What Is Stolbur and Why Is It Dangerous?
Stolbur is caused by the bacterium Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, which is transmitted to crops through leafhopper bites. Infected plants show signs of wilting, and roots or tubers often become soft and rubbery, leading to reduced yield, poor storage quality, and lower sugar content. In severe cases, entire harvests must be discarded.
The disease is also linked to SBR (Syndrome Basses Richesses), another pathogen that reduces sugar content in beets and further impacts quality.
Rapid Spread Across German Farmland
The reed glasswing leafhopper has expanded its range from Baden-Württemberg to Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. According to the German Farmers’ Association, the affected area for sugar beets alone rose from 40,000 hectares in 2023 to over 75,000 hectares—nearly 25% of the national cultivation area.
Potatoes, one of Germany’s key staple crops, are also under threat. Around 65,000 hectares—a quarter of Germany’s potato-growing land—is now at risk due to the presence of the leafhopper, according to the Union of the German Potato Industry (UNIKA).
Economic and Consumer Impact
Although Stolbur poses no direct risk to human health, infected produce with rubbery textures or signs of decay is removed from the market. However, experts warn that if the disease continues to spread, consumers could face reduced availability of local potatoes and vegetables by autumn 2025.
For farmers, the impact is already severe:
- Yield losses of up to 25% in beet farms
- Up to 70% in potato crops in some regions
- Increased costs for sorting and disposal
- Loss of planting material for the next season
Some farms are now questioning whether they can continue production at all.
Farmers Demand Urgent Action
Joachim Rukwied, President of the German Farmers’ Association, has called on political leaders to approve emergency pesticide use to stop the leafhopper’s spread. He warned that without immediate intervention, the disease could cause long-term damage to Germany’s food supply and agricultural economy.
“We need solutions for 2025 now. Emergency approval of effective plant protection products is the only short-term option,” Rukwied stated.
