Spain's Drought Crisis Sparks Water Resource Battle in Europe.
Spain's long-term drought is causing "irreversible losses" to more than 5 million hectares of crops, with cereals such as wheat and barley being the worst impacted. Even crops known for their adaptation to a dry climate, such as nuts and olives, are now being threatened. As the drought intensifies, irrigation has become more vital than ever to Spanish farmers. The government's plan to limit the rerouting of water from the nation's longest river – the Tagus – for agricultural purposes lies at the centre of a heated debate.