Vienna agriculture undergoes structural shift toward high-yield production

The agricultural sector in Vienna is undergoing a significant structural transformation characterized by a decrease in the number of farms and cultivated land, alongside an increase in total production value. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of horticultural businesses in the city fell from 263 to 178, while the total area under cultivation shrank by nearly 40 percent.

Despite these reductions, the economic value of agricultural production has risen significantly, growing from 74.8 million euros in 2015 to 118.3 million euros in 2024. This trend is driven by a shift toward high-yield, protected cultivation. For example, greenhouse tomato production rose from 12,600 to over 19,000 tons between 2015 and 2025, and protected bell pepper production more than doubled. Conversely, carrot production saw a decline of over 70 percent.

The Vienna Chamber of Agriculture identifies high land pressure from housing and infrastructure, labor shortages, and increasing bureaucracy as primary challenges. To adapt, some businesses are diversifying into new sectors such as mushroom cultivation, aquaponics, fig and snail farming, and direct marketing services.