Europe’s New Opportunity: Sorghum as a Response to Climate Change

The Importance of Sorghum for Europe
In recent years, sorghum has gained increasing attention in Europe, particularly due to the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and the need to diversify crop rotations. It is one of the fastest-growing arable crops on the continent, playing an ever more important role in sustainable agriculture, animal feed, and food supply. Its expanding cultivation is no coincidence. Originating from Africa, sorghum stands out for its exceptional drought and stress tolerance. To produce the same amount of dry matter, it requires 30–50% less water than maize, making its cultivation a logical choice for farmers in certain regions. Its importance lies not only in outstanding drought tolerance, but also in its low input requirements, versatile uses, and excellent adaptability — all of which position sorghum as a true strategic crop in certain agricultural areas of Europe.

Why Is Grain Sorghum an Advantage for Farmers?
The cultivation of grain sorghum offers an especially attractive alternative for farmers. Its outstanding drought tolerance provides security even under unpredictable weather conditions, while its low input needs make it more economical to grow than many other spring crops. Sorghum is less sensitive to soil quality and, with the exception of extreme soils, can be grown successfully even in areas where other crops produce little or no profit in an average year. It also fits well into crop rotations and does not require special machinery investments. Moreover, sorghum ensures stable yields, with growing demand from both the feed and food industries.

Why Is Silage Sorghum a Solution for Livestock Farmers?
Silage sorghum can become a key forage crop in modern livestock farming. Thanks to its high green mass production and the excellent digestibility of new BMR sorghum types, it provides reliable, high-quality forage for ruminants. During drought periods, silage sorghum offers a safer alternative to silage maize, since its superior water-use efficiency makes it less risky to grow.

Why Is Sorghum Valuable for the Processing Industry?
Grain sorghum is a valuable raw material for the feed and processing industries, as its high starch and protein content make it an excellent source of energy and nutrients, while its moderate fiber and low fat levels ensure good digestibility. Being gluten-free and rich in antioxidants further increases its value, giving it an important role not only in feed but also in the food industry. A major advantage is that sorghum requires less water and inputs than maize and can be reliably grown even under extreme climatic conditions. Its good storability, resistance to mold, and stable quality make it a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative that reduces the feed industry’s dependence on maize.

The Role of Lidea
Lidea is one of Europe’s leading sorghum breeders and seed distributors, contributing to the crop’s potential through long-term research and development programs. The company offers outstanding hybrids adapted to different climatic and end-use needs — whether for grain or silage sorghum. Lidea’s goal is to make sorghum a truly versatile and valuable crop for European farmers.

The 4th European Sorghum Conference in Budapest
The upcoming Sorghum Conference in Budapest will provide an excellent opportunity to present these topics in detail. The event will bring together breeders, researchers, farmers, and processing industry experts to share experiences, showcase the latest innovations, and jointly shape the future of sorghum in Europe. The program will include presentations, panel discussions, and field demonstrations, offering a platform for professional dialogue and international networking.