Sowing onions are an important agricultural crop. Not only in the Netherlands and Belgium; in other European countries too. What the acreages will do is still hard to predict. But, for now, it seems smaller in the Netherlands in the coming season. It will remain stable in Belgium. That is according to international seed supplier, Hazera.
Poland
In Poland, 50% of last year's total 25,000 ha (of which 2,500 ha was winter onions) is destined for peeling. That process is being rapidly automated. Until a few years ago, cheap labor from Ukraine did that work. More recently, it has become increasingly difficult for the Polish agricultural industry to find workers.
This rapid automation could affect the Netherlands. Many poor-quality Dutch onions used to find their way to Poland. There, homemakers and migrant workers (one million Ukrainians) picked them up. The better ones were peeled. That may well change. And, thus, the Polish safety net for the poor quality onions from the Netherlands may well disappear. It is essential to stay alert, and that starts with sowing quality onions.
Germany
In 2019, Germany has a total onion acreage of 12,500 ha - more than 1,000 is organic. That country's storage capacity for especially the growing organic onion area, is increasing. Ten percent of these are stored in ULO's (Ultra Low Oxygen).
England
In England, there were 6,600 ha of sowing onions last year. Of this, 2,000 ha was red onions. Each farm has an average of about 200 ha. And 95% of those onions are grown in the southwest of the country. English growers are sowing at an average of 2.6 units per ha to meet the 60-80mm demand.
France
Back across the English channel to France. There, there was 7,000 ha of seed onions in 2020 in 2019. Roughly north of Paris, 5,500 ha, with 1,500 ha to the south of the capital. France, too, has an increasing demand for organic onions.
In short: the demand for organic onions is rising and peeling plants in Poland are rapidly automating. So, there is momentum in the onion market in the Netherlands, as well as its neighboring countries.
Source: Hazera