Abstract
In terms of vegetable production in Europe, the latest data for 2022 shows that cabbage recorded the highest yield at 8.57 million tonnes (Mt). This reflects cabbage’s long-standing position as Europe’s leading cultivated vegetable. Tomatoes are also produced in large quantities, but in terms of their uses, processed tomatoes account for a large share, and in Italy in particular, they are often consumed as sauces and pastes. In terms of land use, there are distinctive trends for each vegetable. While the cultivation of cabbage and tomatoes requires vast areas of farmland, leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach can be grown efficiently in a relatively small area. In recent years, due to climate change and water resource issues, there is a growing demand for more efficient use of farmland, and we are seeing changes in vegetable production methods. In particular, the introduction of greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation has progressed, and efforts are being made to improve production efficiency. In addition, as consumers become more health conscious, the demand for nutritious vegetables is increasing, which is also affecting the area of cultivation. In the future, we can expect changes in production to reflect environmental considerations and food diversification.
Production (by vegetables)
Cabbage production in Europe as a whole peaked at 20.2 million tonnes (Mt) in 1984, and current production has declined by 42.3% since that peak. This decline reflects changing demand for cabbage production and consumption patterns. In the 1980s, cabbage was widely cultivated as a staple vegetable in European countries, but since then, diversifying consumer tastes and the emergence of new, more nutritious vegetables have had an impact. In particular, increased demand for tomatoes for salads and processing, and leafy vegetables (such as lettuce and spinach) is thought to have led to a decrease in cabbage production. In addition, the area of cabbage cultivation is on the decline compared to other crops, and changes in climate change, agricultural policies, and land use are also influencing this. However, cabbage remains one of Europe’s important vegetables, with demand remaining stable, especially in Eastern and some Southern European countries. On the other hand, the decline in production volume since 1984 is also related to factors such as increased efficiency due to technological innovation, the expansion of cultivation of other agricultural products, and an increase in imports, and it is expected that production adjustments in response to market needs will continue in the future.
The maximum is 31.4Mt[2015] of Domestic_supply, and the current value is about 94.7%
Yield(by vegetable)
In vegetable production across Europe, tomato recorded its highest yield in 2021 with 58.3 tonnes per hectare (t/ha), currently at 93.6% of its peak. This high yield reflects technological innovations in tomato cultivation and improved production efficiency. In particular, advances in greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation techniques have enabled tomato yields to be maintained at a stable, high level. Another factor behind this is the increase in tomato consumption. In Europe, tomatoes are widely consumed in salads, sauces and processed products (tomato paste and ketchup), and demand is increasing, leading to an expansion of production. In addition, tomato production is also affected by climatic conditions and regional production characteristics. In particular, the warm climate in the Mediterranean region is suitable for tomato cultivation, which has helped increase yields. Tomato production is also supported by selective breeding, with varieties grown for a variety of purposes. In recent years, with environmental concerns in mind, sustainable agricultural methods have been attracting attention, and progress has been made in improving water efficiency and reducing energy costs in tomato production. This will enable us to expect stable production in the future, but it also calls for efforts to reduce the environmental impact.
The maximum is 58.3t/ha[2021] of Tomato, and the current value is about 93.6%
Land use (by vegetables)
In 2022, tomatoes recorded the largest land use area in vegetable production across Europe, covering 375 thousand hectares (kha). This area indicates that tomato is widely cultivated, with tomato production playing an especially important role in the Mediterranean region. Tomatoes are in high demand for use in salads, sauces, and processed foods, and as consumption expands, the production area is also on the rise. The average land use area is 133 thousand hectares (kha) against the total area of 1.46 million hectares (mha). This shows how large the area cultivated for tomatoes is compared to other vegetables. In particular, with the advancement of greenhouse cultivation and high-yield variety improvement, production is now possible through efficient land use, which has resulted in increased productivity per area. On the other hand, because tomato cultivation requires large amounts of water resources, issues such as climate change and water resources may become challenges in the future. For this reason, there is a need to promote sustainable agriculture, and efficient water use and diversified land use are important. As agricultural technology advances, it is expected that land use efficiency in tomato production will continue to improve in the future.
The maximum is 20.5Mt of Production volume, the average is 20.5Mt, and the total is 20.5Mt
Tomato usage
Based on data from 1961, the maximum production volume of tomatoes by use reached 31.4 million tonnes (Mt) for domestic supply, which remains the highest to date. During this time, most tomatoes were consumed for the fresh market and were generally eaten directly at home or in restaurants. This increase in domestic supply reflects growing demand for fresh tomatoes among consumers. Since then, the uses of tomatoes have diversified, and the demand for processed tomatoes (for sauces, ketchup, paste, etc.) has increased sharply. Especially from the 1960s to the 1980s, cultivation of tomatoes for processing became popular in Italy and other Mediterranean countries, which significantly changed the way tomatoes were consumed. As a result, part of the tomato production volume was shifted to the processing industry, and the scale of the industry expanded. Recently, while demand for tomatoes remains high, demand not only for fresh tomatoes for domestic supply but also for processing has continued to be strong, and the market, particularly for canned and frozen foods, is expanding. This is due to the long shelf life of tomato products and their convenient use in processed foods. Tomato production by use is expected to continue to fluctuate in response to market needs.
The maximum is 31.4Mt[2015] of Domestic_supply, and the current value is about 94.7%
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