#greenvegetables #agriculture #Russia #greenhouse#industry #organicfood #agrotechnologies# greencrops#saladproduction #verticalfarming #importsubstitution #domesticproduction
The consumption of fresh green vegetables in cities across Russia is expected to increase to 12 kg per capita by 2030, up from the current average of 7-8 kg, due to the growing demand for organic and healthy food. The greenhouse industry in Russia has been growing rapidly, with vegetable and green crop production increasing threefold over the past 15 years. The trend towards producing off-season vegetables and salad greens will continue as it represents 75-80% of the Russian green vegetable market. To meet this demand, modernization and investment in new agrotechnologies and equipment will be required to improve soil cultivation and growing conditions for green crops. The production of organic and “green” products is also expected to be a driver of development in the Russian agricultural sector for years to come.
The Russian agricultural sector is seeing a significant increase in the production of green crops, particularly greens and salads grown in protected soil, with an average annual growth rate of 5% expected in the coming years. By 2030, production is projected to reach over 60 thousand tons, driven mainly by the introduction of new facilities and product diversification by major greenhouse agroholdings, import substitution, and increased demand for fresh greens and leafy salads. Consumption of salads and greens is also expected to reach 300 thousand tons by 2030, exceeding 2020 levels by 30%, with up to 70% of the products supplied by large agricultural organizations. The highest growth rates in the next decade will be seen in the production of greens and salads grown on vertical farms, which allow vegetables and greens to be grown in any climatic conditions, particularly in regions where greenhouse and open-field vegetable growing is not profitable or difficult due to harsh weather conditions, such as the Far East, Siberia, and the Urals.
The import volume of salad vegetables is gradually decreasing, with a decline from 12.9 thousand tons in 2021 to 9.88 thousand tons in 2022 (-23%). According to projections by the Russian Agricultural Bank (RAB), about 70% of salads consumed by Russians will be domestically produced by 2030. Currently, the main suppliers of foreign fresh greens in Russia are Egypt, Turkey, China, Serbia, and Azerbaijan, which together accounted for more than 70% of all foreign products supplied to the Russian fresh greens market in 2022.
According to data from the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Regional Forecasting of Rosselkhozbank, by 2022, closed ground vegetable production had reached 1.59 million tonnes, an 8% increase from the previous year. Greenhouse cucumber production was estimated at 857.4 thousand tonnes (+5% from the previous year), while tomato production reached 657.4 thousand tonnes (+7%). Other crops, including green vegetables, eggplants, and peppers, exceeded 60 thousand tonnes. Green vegetable production in 2022 reached 42 thousand tonnes, with leafy salads and herbs accounting for more than 75% of the total.
The increasing demand for green vegetables and salads in Russia is driven by the shift towards healthier eating habits, and the preference for fresh, organic, and locally sourced produce. To meet this demand, greenhouse complexes in Russia are expected to modernize and upgrade their facilities, which will increase their efficiency, improve product quality, and reduce production costs.
The trend towards increased consumption of green vegetables and salad greens in Russia is expected to continue, and modernization of the greenhouse industry will be required to meet this demand. The shift towards organic and healthy eating habits is a positive development for the agricultural sector in Russia, and investment in new technologies and production methods will be key to meeting the growing demand for green vegetables in the coming years.
