Decline in sunflower cultivation in Saxony

Sunflower cultivation is on the decline in Saxony. At 3,200 hectares, the area under cultivation this year is at a low level, as the Saxon State Farmers' Association announced on request. Compared to the previous year, this is a decrease of almost 16 percent; two years ago it was still more than 5,800 hectares.

In 2022, the cultivation of sunflowers had experienced a boom across Germany. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a shortage of sunflower oil. In international sunflower trade, the price rose from 700 to over 1,100 euros per tonne within a very short space of time, according to EU data.

Before the war, Ukraine had been the world's largest exporter, from which the EU sourced a large proportion of its imports. As a result, arable farmers in Germany had grown more sunflowers than perhaps ever before.

But exports from Ukraine had already returned to normal in the previous year and prices fell. The area under cultivation was also reduced again in Saxony. The product has slipped back into the niche sector, explained Andreas Jahnel, who is responsible for arable and plant cultivation at the state farmers' association.

In addition, cultivation is associated with considerable risks, said Udo Noack from the agricultural cooperative "Heidefarm Sdier" from Großdubrau near Bautzen. "Once the plant has reached a certain height and there is a prolonged drought, there is almost no yield." In addition, the sunflower is a "predatory plant that completely sucks the nutrients out of the soil."

"We farmers can only really earn money with a few crops. Sunflowers are a real alternative," explained Noack. However, they are dependent on prices. These are around 50 percent lower this year than in 2022, but he expects a halfway decent yield.

Sunflowers have an oil content of around 40 percent, according to Noack. The oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. It can be used in a variety of ways, in salads and in the preparation of hot dishes.