Greenpeace forecast: Austria will almost exclusively use fertile soils in 2024

A Greenpeace analysis published today shows that in 2024, Austria will almost exclusively build on and seal off fertile soils. According to calculations by the environmental protection organization, around 4,300 hectares of agricultural land will be destroyed this year - that is around 95 percent of Austria's average soil consumption. The waste of valuable agricultural land is driving the extinction of farms and jeopardizing regional food production. On the occasion of the current winter conference, Greenpeace is calling for the federal government, provinces, cities and municipalities to take the threat to farmers seriously and finally adopt an ambitious soil protection strategy, including a reduction target to a maximum of 2.5 hectares per day by 2030.

"While Agriculture Minister Totschnig demonizes the Green Deal at the winter conference, he stands idly by and watches as Austria's most fertile soils are concreted over. This is not only damaging our biodiversity, but also the local farmers. It is an indictment that a soil protection strategy with a clear reduction target has still not been adopted," says Melanie Ebner, agricultural expert at Greenpeace.

Study results at a glance

• According to a current Greenpeace forecast, 4,300 hectares of fields, meadows and orchards will be built on in Austria by 2024
• This is almost the size of the city of Wels.
• That's 15 soccer fields per day.
• The lost land provides space for 182 farms.
• Enough food could be grown on this area to cover the annual needs of almost 20,000 Austrians.

Federal states in comparison

According to the Greenpeace analysis, Lower Austria will cultivate the most fertile land (a good 1,000 hectares) in 2024 compared to the other federal states, followed by Upper Austria. Every second field that is cultivated in Austria is located in Lower Austria.

In percentage terms, Salzburg and Carinthia are two federal states that have little arable land due to their mountainous landscape. If fertile soils continue to be destroyed at this rate in Salzburg and Carinthia, it will no longer be possible to farm in either province in 200 years' time.

Greenpeace used data from the Ministry of Agriculture between 2017 and 2023 as the basis for the calculations.

Soil loss and the disappearance of farms

According to the study, the loss of fertile land goes hand in hand with the death of farmers. Increasing non-agricultural land use is increasing the pressure on farmers to produce more and more on ever smaller areas.

Effective soil protection necessary

"Empty promises and toothless lip service help neither our endangered biodiversity nor local farmers. We need a strong soil strategy with a concrete reduction target in order to safeguard food production in Austria - now and in the future. The ÖVP must abandon its blockade stance and finally adopt an ambitious and effective soil protection strategy in 2024," says Ebner.

Factsheet on the topic: https://act.gp/Factsheet-LW-Flächen