Autumn vegetables from Upper Austria: Diversity thanks to milder global warming

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Klimaforscher bestätigen: In Oberösterreich verlängert der Klimawandel die Vegetationszeit. Die heimische Gemüsevielfalt bleibt auch im Winter erhalten. Erfahren Sie mehr über die Entwicklungen!
Climate researchers confirm: In Upper Austria, climate change extends vegetation time. The diversity of vegetables is still preserved in winter. Find out more about the developments! (Symbolbild/DNAT)

In Upper Austria, it is once again shown how climate change affects agriculture. Climate researchers have found that the vegetation period is extended by the general warming, which opens up new opportunities for the domestic vegetable farmers.

Thanks to mild autumn days, farmers can now offer freshly harvested vegetables longer than a few years ago. The still popular varieties include vogerl salad, celeriac and salad lakes, while newer greenhouse products such as ginger are increasingly found on the shelves of business. The high proportion of biologically cultivated vegetables in Upper Austria is particularly remarkable. According to current statistics, this proportion is a considerable 29%, which the state in Austria raises at the top.

challenges for vegetable growing

The domestic vegetable producers are also faced with numerous challenges. High energy prices and an increased environmental awareness mean that consumers want to use biological and seasonal products. Franz Waldenberger, President of the Chamber of Agriculture Upper Austria, emphasizes the importance of preserving the diversity and taste of regional vegetables even in the colder months. However, he warns that the self -supply rate of 58% for vegetables is at risk without suitable framework conditions.

The year 2024 was a special challenge. Above average temperatures and little precipitation significantly difficult to cultivate vegetables. Thanks to the favorable conditions in the medium -september, most vegetable fields were spared flooding, while other regions such as Lower Austria were more affected. Ewald Mayr, chairman of the association of vegetable, potato and fruit farmers Geo_Oö, reports that only river-related stocks suffered impairments. Nevertheless, the general income balance of the 2024 season is below average.

According to the growers, there is a clear need to support domestic vegetable growing in order to keep the diverse varieties that can thrive in Upper Austria over the winter months and beyond. Climate change offers a waiver of continuing risk of frost, but the producers must also pay attention to other factors when planning the cultivation.

In summary, it turns out that Upper Austria is on the way to further expand its position as an important center for biological vegetables and at the same time to cope with the challenges that the climate brings. Developments in agriculture are not only for the producers, but also for consumers who appreciate the advantages of freshly harvested, regional products.

For more information on the latest developments in vegetable cultivation in Upper Austria, see the current reports on www.gabot.de .