On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Business in the countrythe Austrian young farmers and EFKO Frischfrucht & Delikessen GmbH invited to a joint press conference to the courtyard of the EFKO farmer Matthias Ecker. The aim was to point out the growing challenges and at the same time make it clear that secure supply of domestic food is not a matter of course.
High price pressure & rising costs as a burden
Mag. Robert Pichler, chairman of Business in the countryThe biggest challenges on: “We have sustainable, high -quality food production in Austria, which also guarantees high security of care even in crisis times. This is not a matter of course. The Austrians only issue 12% of the household income for food. This results in a strong price pressure, since costs and conditions along the entire value chain are increasing. Agricultural area is no longer managed by the lack of profitability.
EFKO managing director Mag. Thomas Krahofer focused on the regionality and appealed to politics to introduce mandatory identification of origin even in the case of processed products. “Our claim at EFKO is to offer regional foods of the highest quality in the future-from the field to the shelf. This is only possible if agriculture, processing, trade, politics and society pull together together. Fair prices along the entire value chain and the willingness to pay for this quality are needed.
Farmer Matthias Ecker also emphasized the high price pressure. “There is a lot of commitment and manual work in the food, especially with cultures such as Gurker. So that we can continue to do this work in the future, fair framework conditions and an appreciation are required, which is also worthwhile for us farmers.”
Missing pesticides threaten the security of supply
BR Viktoria Hutter, youth spokeswoman for the Austrian Farmers’ Association, pointed out the effects of the loss of important pesticides: “It cannot be that funds are pulled out of circulation without replacement.
We urgently need modern, effective pesticides that are also checked accordingly. Because the preservation of our environment is particularly important to us young farmers. Our problem is that the approval of new funds is complicated and bureaucratic. At the same time, unfortunately, more and more old means are being eliminated. This development has to be countered, otherwise the decline in many arable fruits continues unabated with serious consequences for our security of supply with high -quality domestic foods. Already now the acreage of rapeseed, radish, cherries or potatoes have already declined massively. For us young farmers in particular, better perspectives are needed to effectively protect our areas and lead companies economically. ”
As the next step, Hutter announced the start of a social media campaign in which the young farmers want to show the cultures in which cultures there are particularly large gaps in crop protection.
About business in the country
Business in the country is a non -profit, independent association that works for a lively rural area. The aim is to network organizations in rural areas, the development of new value chains as well as the promotion of environmental awareness and innovation in the agricultural area.
About EFKO Frischfrucht und Delikessessen GmbH
EFKO Frischfrucht und Delikessessen GmbH is the most important sour vegetable manufacturer in Austria. EFKO stands for Eferdingen treasures and is an internationally oriented company with its headquarters in Eferding/Upper Austria. Due to the EFKO participation structure, 49 percent of the company owned the Upper Austria fruit and vegetable recycling cooperative. 120 farmers: Inside from the region, which produce fruit and vegetables in the best quality and strict criteria, are part of this cooperative. The EFKO group of companies processes and refines around 90,000 tons of 70 types of fruit and vegetables every year. The EFKO group of companies currently employs around 671 people: inside. In the 2024 financial year, sales of EUR 193.6 million were generated.