How will climate change affect saffron yield at home and abroad?

How climate change will affect saffron yield is a big question that Vermont saffron farmers have been discussing in the off season. We’ve discussed ideas with our friends in Tuscany and global networks via University of Vermont’s Saffron Research Program.

In regions like Vermont, wetter weather and unpredictable snow cover can lead to challenges with corm rot. In the regions around the Mediterranean “higher temperatures and less rainfall mean that flowering happens later and later each year as the plants wait for things to cool down.” (Saffron crocus flowering is triggered by cooling temperatures.)

The Vermont 2022 saffron harvest was very light – down from 2021 and 2022. Interestingly this maps to a trend we’ve seen in parts of the Middle East and Spain as well, where saffron yields have dropped for 3 straight years. 

Ultimately, the fate of the saffron depends on our ability to adapt as quickly as the climate is shifting. Whether it’s battling the damp soil of Vermont or the scorching heat of the Mediterranean, farmers are finding that traditional wisdom must now be paired with global scientific collaboration. As we look toward future seasons, the resilience of the saffron crocus will be a testament to the ingenuity and hard work of family farms in Vermont and growers worldwide.