Degree of self-sufficiency with food

Austria produces a wide variety of food products, both of animal and plant origin. However, the quantity and type of food produced depend largely on the country's natural conditions. As a result, domestic production can meet a large share of Austrian demand for some foods, while for others, production falls well below domestic consumption. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have heightened public interest in the security of Austria's food supply.

What Is the Self-Sufficiency Rate?

The self-sufficiency rate is an important indicator that shows how much of Austria's demand for a particular food product could, in theory, be met through domestic production.

It is important to note that the self-sufficiency rate reflects only the theoretical capacity of domestic production to meet national demand. In practice, however, food products are regularly exported and imported, meaning that a significant share of Austrian-produced food is consumed abroad, while imported products are consumed within Austria.

The self-sufficiency rate is calculated for each individual food product or food category. It is based on the quantity produced in Austria (generally referred to as production) and the quantity used domestically (generally referred to as domestic use).

If Austria produces less of a particular food than is used domestically, the self-sufficiency rate is below 100 percent. If production exceeds domestic demand, the self-sufficiency rate is above 100 percent.

It is important to note that domestic use does not correspond to the quantity actually consumed as food. In particular, for products that are also used as animal feed or as raw materials for industrial production, the amount consumed as food is significantly lower than the total domestic use.

Self-Sufficiency Rate for Plant-Based Products in the 2023/2024 Marketing Year

For the self-sufficiency rate of plant-based products, growing conditions play a major role. Some types of fruit and vegetables require a great deal of sunlight and warmth and can therefore be cultivated less successfully in Austria. Other plant-based products, on the other hand, can be grown exceptionally well under the conditions found in the country. This is also reflected in their self-sufficiency rates.

The self-sufficiency rate for cereals is 90 percent. A total of 5.2 million tonnes were produced in Austria, while 5.8 million tonnes were consumed. However, only 1.1 million tonnes of this amount were used as human food. On average, people in Austria consumed 90.3 kilograms per capita.

The self-sufficiency rate for potatoes is 78 percent. Potatoes were cultivated on approximately 21,900 hectares in Austria, and 763,216 tonnes were required, of which 452,000 tonnes were used as food. Average per-capita consumption was 53.1 kilograms.

The self-sufficiency rate for vegetables is 55 percent. Austria could meet its own demand for products such as onions, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, and spinach. Particularly low self-sufficiency rates are recorded for products such as mushrooms (16 percent), tomatoes (17 percent), peppers/chilli peppers (26 percent), and courgettes (32 percent). A total of 1.3 million tonnes of vegetables were consumed in Austria, with the majority used as food. Average per-capita consumption was 122.5 kilograms.

The self-sufficiency rate for fruit is 33 percent. Fruit was cultivated on approximately 11,400 hectares of commercial orchards in Austria, and 946,000 tonnes were required, of which 700,000 tonnes were used as food. Average per-capita consumption was 76.5 kilograms.

Rice is difficult to cultivate in Austria; only 287 tonnes were produced annually. However, 57,100 tonnes were consumed, of which 47,500 tonnes were used as food—equivalent to approximately 5.2 kilograms per person per year. Austria is therefore unable to meet its own rice demand, and the self-sufficiency rate is below one percent.

The self-sufficiency rate for oilseeds (i.e. seeds from which vegetable oil can be extracted) is 50 percent. A total of 443,000 tonnes were produced in Austria, while 884,000 tonnes were consumed. However, only 64,400 tonnes were used as human food. Average per-capita consumption was 7.4 kilograms.

The self-sufficiency rate for vegetable oils is 33 percent. Austria produced 240,800 tonnes and required 382,000 tonnes, of which 120,700 tonnes were used as food. Average per-capita consumption was 13.2 kilograms.

Self-Sufficiency Rate for Animal Products in the 2024 Marketing Year

The self-sufficiency rate for meat is 107 percent, meaning that Austria could theoretically meet its own demand for meat through domestic production. A total of 860,000 tonnes were produced in Austria, while 805,000 tonnes were consumed. Of this amount, 532,400 tonnes were used as human food. On average, people in Austria consumed 58.0 kilograms per capita.

The self-sufficiency rate varies by type of meat: beef has a self-sufficiency rate of 148 percent, pork 100 percent, and poultry 74 percent.

The self-sufficiency rate for fish, on the other hand, is only 8 percent. This is not surprising, as Austria's lack of access to the sea creates unfavourable conditions in this sector. A total of 5,700 tonnes were produced in Austria, while 73,200 tonnes were required for human consumption—many times the amount produced domestically. Average per-capita fish consumption was 8 kilograms.

The self-sufficiency rate for milk is 177 percent. This figure refers to drinking milk, meaning milk that is not further processed into other dairy products. For other dairy products, the self-sufficiency rate is partly above and partly below 100 percent: it is 110 percent for cream, 109 percent for cheese, and 64 percent for butter.

The self-sufficiency rate for eggs is also very high at 87 percent. A total of 144,200 tonnes of eggs were produced in Austria. Average per-capita consumption was 15.5 kilograms of eggs.