Sea buckthorn berry harvesting has come to an end in Mecklenburg - Vorpommern due to the dieback of the bushes, for which the cause is currently unknown. The dieback has been occurring for about a decade and is believed to be caused by a biotic factor, possibly fungi. Drought may also be a contributing factor. The extent of the dieback varies from farm to farm. In 2021, Germany harvested 740 tons of sea buckthorn from 228 hectares. A team of scientists is investigating the dieback.