Styria seeks new growers to boost local vegetable production

Styria is looking for people changing careers to take up vegetable farming as it seeks to increase local food production, ORF reports. The Austrian province currently falls behind other parts of the country in its self-sufficiency with vegetables, according to grower Markus Hillebrand.

Austria produces slightly more than half of the vegetables it consumes, but Styria’s self-sufficiency rate is much lower for many crops, Hillebrand said. The rate is below 3% for carrots, about one-sixth for tomatoes and roughly half for lettuce.

Agriculture councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer said the sector could offer a viable livelihood to newcomers without requiring large areas of land. Full-time vegetable farming could be realistic on 5,000 square metres, she said. The province also plans new support for irrigation systems and additional growing areas in Upper Styria, alongside more research into adapting to climate change.

Vegetable consumption in Austria has risen by about 27% over the past 30 years, leaving a market for local produce. But growers face increasing challenges from climate change, including prolonged dry spells. Plants stop growing when temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius, Hillebrand said.