Bio-Klima-Gemüse

Climate-adapted regional vegetable growing! Why should I care?

The Bio-Klima-Gemüse project is about answering the question of what challenges arise from climate change for organic vegetable cultivation in northern Hesse and for the downstream sectors, i.e. the so-called value-added networks. This explicitly includes the consumer perspective and this is the responsibility of the Agricultural and Food Marketing working group.

But what do consumers have to do with climate-adapted vegetable cultivation?

The consumption habits of consumers determine to a large extent what is on offer in supermarkets. This also applies to (organic) fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable displays are characterized by a huge variety that is almost completely independent of the season and the local supply. Because - what is not available here, and that is a lot due to our climatic conditions, is imported. Fruit and vegetables produced in Germany account for 23% (fruit) and 38% (vegetables) of the total fruit and vegetables consumed (Statista 2024a and 2024b).

Climate-adapted consumption habits could be:

• The increased consumption of regional and therefore seasonal fruit and vegetables. This would reduce the often ecologically questionable cultivation of fruit and vegetables in countries with extreme water shortages (Spain, Italy).
• Increased consumption of simply processed fruit and vegetables such as canned or frozen goods of German origin in the winter months.
• A higher consumption of organically AND regionally produced fruit and vegetables. Organic fruit and vegetable cultivation is often better adapted to the climatic conditions (higher organic matter content) and other varieties, which means that organic fruit and vegetable cultivation is better able to cope with dry and wet periods.

As part of the Organic Climate Vegetables project, we are investigating what changes in consumer habits are necessary and possible in order to make fruit and vegetable consumption more climate-friendly. Together with consumers, we are developing strategies for what such climate-friendly consumption could look like and how it can be communicated to consumers. Finally, the question of the associated challenges for regional fruit and vegetable networks will be answered.

Sources:

Statista (2024a): Self-sufficiency rate for fruit in Germany in the marketing years 2006/07 to 2022/23. de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/76635/umfrage/selbstversorgungsgrad-bei-obst-in-deutschland/

Statista (2024b): Self-sufficiency rate for vegetables in Germany in the years 2002/03 to 2022/23. de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/76634/umfrage/selbstversorgungsgrad-mit-gemuese-in-deutschland/