How much of the food demand in this country could be covered by Austrian production? In particular in times of crisis the interest in this question is rising. The degree of self-sufficiency is different for all categories of foodstuffs and varies partly considerably.
In Austria, a lot of foodstuffs - of animal or plant origin - are produced. However, how much of each foodstuff is produced depends very much on the conditions in our country. Thus, for some foodstuffs the Austrian demand can be largely met by domestic production, whereas for other foodstuffs considerably less is produced in Austria than people consume. Again and again certain events - such as the corona crisis or the war in the Ukraine - are the cause of the fact that people are increasingly interested in the question of what is the situation of security of supply in Austria.
What is the degree of self-sufficiency?
The degree of self-sufficiency is an interesting and important indicator in this respect, which indicates how much of the demand for certain foodstuffs Austria could cover from its own production,
In this context, it is important to know that the degree of self-sufficiency only indicates how much of the Austrian demand could theoretically be met by Austrian production. However, normally foodstuffs are exported and imported in such a way that a considerably lower quantity of the Austrian products is also actually consumed in Austria.
The degree of self-sufficiency is indicated by foodstuff or foodstuff category and is calculated from the quantity produced in Austria (mostly designated with the term “production”) and the quantity consumed in Austria (mostly “domestic use”). If in Austria a lower quantity of foodstuffs is produced than consumed, the degree of self-sufficiency is below 100 percent. If more is produced than needed in this country, it is above 100 percent. By the way, the quantity used in Austria doesn’t correspond to the quantity, which is actually consumed as foodstuff. In particular, for products, which are also used as feedstuffs for animals or for industrial production, the figures for food consumption are considerably lower than domestic use.
Note
The information used for this Article originates from the Supply balances of Statistics Austria. The figures for products of plant origin originate from the survey period 2020/21, those for products of animal origin from the year 2020. For this article they have been rounded to figures, which can be represented clearly.
Degree of self-sufficiency with plant-based products
For the degree of self-sufficiency with plant-based products the growing conditions play an important role. Some fruit and vegetable varieties need a lot of light and heat and can therefore not be grown so well in Austria. Other plant products can be grown extraordinarily well under the conditions in our country. This is also reflected in the degree of self-sufficiency.
The degree of self-sufficiency for cereals amounts to 94 percent.5.7 tonnes are produced every year in Austria and 6 million are consumed. However, only 1 million tonne of which serves as human nutrition. Per capita humans in Austria consume on average 89.4 kilogrammes per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for potatoes amounts to 90 percent 885,900 tonnes are grown in Austria every year and 981,400 tonnes are needed, of which 490,700 tonnes as nutrition. Per capita 54.9 kilogrammes are consumed on average per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for vegetables amounts to 58 percent.Austrian could also meet its own demand for onions, carrots and spinach. Particularly low are the figures for example for mushrooms (15 per cent), tomatoes (18 per cent), pepper/chilli pepper (30 percent) and courgettes (32 percent). 1.2 million tonnes of vegetables are consumed in this country per year, the major part of it serves as nutrition. Per capita humans in Austria consume on average 116.7 kilogrammes per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for fruits amounts to 48 percent.481,400 tonnes are grown in Austria every year and 995,100 are needed, of which 680,700 as nutrition. Per capita 76.2 kilogrammes are consumed on average per year.
Rice is difficult to be grown in Austria; only 189 tonnes are produced per year. However, 54,600 tonnes are consumed, of which 46,500 tonnes as nutrition - these are per capita around 5.2 kilogrammes per year. Austria can thus not cover its supply with rice by itself, the degree of self-sufficiency lies below one percent. The degree of self-sufficiency for oilseeds (thus seeds from which vegetable oil can be produced) lies below 47 %.389,250 tonnes are produced every year in Austria and 826,750 million are consumed. However, only 64,700 million tonnes of which serve as human nutrition. Per capita humans in Austria consume on average 7.2 kilogrammes per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for vegetable oils amounts to 25 percent. 237,800 tonnes are grown in Austria every year and 449,600 are needed, of which 117,100 as nutrition. Per capita 13.1 kilogrammes are consumed on average per year.
Degree of self-sufficiency with animal-based products
The degree of self-sufficiency for meat amounts to 112 percent Austria could theoretically meet its demand for meat by itself. 910,000 tonnes are produced every year in Austria and 808,900 million are consumed. However, only 539,400 million tonnes of which serve as human nutrition. Per capita humans in Austria consume on average 60.5 kilogrammes per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for beef amounts to 145 percent for pork 106 percent and for poultry 77 percent. The degree of self-sufficiency for fish amounts only to 7 percent.This is little surprise as Austria, having no access to the sea, offers unfavourable conditions in this field. 4,700 tonnes are produced in Austria per year, whereas, with a food consumption amounting to 65,100 tonnes, many times of this quantity are needed. Per capita 7.3 kilogrammes of fish are consumed on average per year. The degree of self-sufficiency for milk amounts to 177 percent.This is drinking milk, thus not milk that is further processed to other dairy products. Whereas 1.18 million tonnes are produced by year, only 669.100 tonnes are consumed - this corresponds per capita on average to 75.1 kilogrammes per year. For other dairy products the degree of self-sufficiency is partly above, but partly also below 100 percent. With cream/sour cream it amounts to 109 percent, with cheese 94 percent and with butter 73 percent. The degree of self-sufficiency for eggs, amounting to 90 percent, is very high as well. 132,300 tonnes of eggs - which are 2.17 billion eggs - are produced in Austria per year. 149,300 tonnes are needed, of which 130,206 tonnes as nutrition. Per capita 14.6 kilogrammes of eggs are consumed on average per year.
