Global asparagus cultivation faces major challenges

The number of companies in the Netherlands that grow asparagus has fallen over the past twelve years from 703 to 488 companies. In the same period, the area fell from 3,092 to 2,761 hectares. North Brabant (196 companies) and Limburg (221 companies) are the provinces in which the most asparagus are grown. But also in these provinces the popularity is declining. The number of companies fell by 50 and 152 respectively over the past twelve years. The fact that cultivation is declining in popularity is due to rising production costs, falling demand and disappointing economic results. According to market agency AMI, this trend is not limited to countries in the European Union, but is a worldwide phenomenon. 'China, Peru, Mexico, Germany and Spain are the world's largest asparagus producers. Since 2018, we have also seen that the acreage has stagnated. The years of growth are over," writes AMI market analyst Michael Koch. Koch states that asparagus cultivation is now in phase five of ...