Agricultural crop grown in Europe

Despite some limited land resources, foreign Europe was able to establish a fairly highly productive agriculture. The countries of this part of the world are not only able to provide food for their own population, but for the most part are large exporters of crop and livestock products. As for the first industry, the most developed in the European countries is dairy farming. The region's crop production is dominated by such directions as horticulture and horticulture. Several countries are also the largest exporters of cereals, mainly wheat.

Agriculture in foreign Europe: the proportion of the active population

After the Second World War, major changes took place in the economies of the states of this region. The share of the active population employed in agriculture has dropped significantly. This was due to the development of new intensive production methods, an increase in the well-being of the population and many other factors. However, serious differences between individual countries in this regard remain. For example, in the UK in 2005, the agricultural sector employed about 1.4% of the total active population, in Portugal - 19%, and in Romania - 42%. A similar situation persists today.

Main types of maintenance

A specialization that agriculture in foreign Europe can be proud of is subtropical agriculture. The bulk of food imports from this part of the globe are grapes, fruits, sugar and wine. The second place is taken by dairy products - milk, meat, cheese, butter.

Thus, the main types of agriculture in foreign Europe are as follows:

• Central European with a predominance of animal husbandry (mainly dairy) in the structure.
• South European with a predominance of plant growing, mainly subtropical.

It is also possible to distinguish the Eastern European type of agriculture, which is much less specialized. Such an organization is typical for the states of the former socialist camp.

Central European type

The countries of foreign Europe with such agricultural organizations specialize mainly in meat and dairy farming and forage crop production. Also, quite important subsectors in these states are vegetable growing and cultivation of industrial crops.

Livestock

In the western regions of England, in the north of Germany and France, in the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland, dairy farming is especially well developed. Butter, margarine, condensed milk and cheeses make up a significant proportion of food imports from these countries. In Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark, a lot of resources are also involved in meat and dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding and poultry farming. These subsectors also occupy a significant part in the structure of agriculture in Great Britain. In areas with a meager forage base (Scotland, Massif Central in France, Pennins), traditional extensive sheep breeding has developed well.

Plant growing

Agriculture of foreign Europe, if we talk about the northern and western regions, as already mentioned, specializes mainly in animal husbandry.Crop production in countries with a Central European type of organization usually plays a secondary role and is focused primarily on helping livestock and pig breeding. Two-fifths of the land in this part of foreign Europe is occupied by meadows and pastures. The cultivated soils are mainly cultivated with potatoes, rye, oats and forage crops. However, in recent years, crop production in countries with a Central European type of management has become an increasingly independent industry. First of all, this can be attributed to France. At the moment, this state is, for example, one of the largest importers of wheat and sugar.

Floriculture

Agriculture of foreign Europe in the northern and western countries is focused mainly on fodder crop production. However, there is another very well developed sub-industry in this region - floriculture. It is mainly the Netherlands that specializes in it. The cultivation of bulbous and tree-shrub ornamental plants in this country began a very long time ago - more than 400 years ago. The first tulips were brought to the Netherlands from Turkey. In a short period of time, thousands of varieties and varieties of this flower were bred in Holland. At the moment, the Netherlands is one of the largest suppliers of ornamental plants - tulips, roses, chrysanthemums, daffodils, etc. - in the world.

Agricultural characteristics of overseas Europe: southern type

For countries with such an organization, specialization in crop production is characteristic. Grain is also grown in the states of southern Europe. However, the most popular crops are almonds, citrus fruits, vegetables and fruits. The lion's share of agricultural production is occupied by grapes and olives.

The most prominent examples of specialization in subtropical cultures are the southern regions of Spain and Italy. The latter takes, for example, the first place in the grape harvest in the world. The annual harvest of vegetables in Italy is 14-15 million tons, fruits, citrus fruits and grapes - 18-18 million tons. In the southern regions of Spain, using ancient Roman irrigation systems, mainly cereals, cotton and tobacco are grown. Vegetable growing, viticulture and citrus gardening are also very well developed here. In the collection of olives, Spain ranks first in the world.

Eastern European type

The agriculture of countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, etc., developed in special economic conditions. In the middle of the last century, collective and state farms were actively created in this region. Therefore, these countries of foreign Europe in agriculture do not have any pronounced specialization. More or less clearly it manifested itself only in the cultivation of vegetables, tobacco, fruits and grapes. Grain farming is also developed in these regions. In particular, Hungary has made good progress in this crop sector. The grain yield in this country is 50 centners per hectare. There are 1400 kg per capita. In Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia, mainly vegetables, fruits and grapes are grown.

Agriculture of foreign Europe (table):

Agriculture type	Direction		Country
	Livestock	Plant growing
Central European	Dairy, meat and dairy	Forage crops, vegetables, potatoes, cereals, floriculture	France, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherlands
	Sheep breeding		France, UK
South european		Horticulture, viticulture, olives, citrus fruits	Italy, Spain
Eastern European		Cereals, horticulture, viticulture, vegetable growing	Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary

This is approximately how agriculture in foreign Europe is distributed across industries and subsectors. The table, of course, is not very detailed, but gives a general idea of ​​its structure.

Natural prerequisites for the development of agriculture:

• the position of most of Europe Abroad (except for the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard) in the temperate and subtropical zones,
• positive temperature regime and high moisture availability throughout the year (with the exception of the Mediterranean region, where sustainable agriculture needs artificial irrigation),
• the presence of natural meadows and pasture lands favorable for the cultivation of many types of agricultural crops (grain, industrial, subtropical, etc.) for the development of animal husbandry.

The main disadvantage in the complex of favorable conditions is the relative limited resources of agricultural land.

The region fully covers its needs for agricultural products through its own production, and for some of its types (grain, meat, milk and dairy products, sugar, eggs) it exceeds domestic needs and occupies a prominent place in the world for their export.

For Foreign Europe, in general, the livestock profile of agriculture, meat bias, is characteristic. Its main industry is cattle breeding, mainly dairy and milk and meat production.

Depending on the natural and historical conditions in the region, there are three main types of agriculture:

1. The Northern European type is typical for countries such as Norway, Finland, Great Britain, and Sweden. This type is characterized by the predominance of intensive dairy farming and in crop production - the production of forage crops.
2. The Central European type is distinguished by the predominance of dairy and dairy-meat animal husbandry, as well as pig and poultry farming. Denmark, called the "dairy farm of Europe", is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of butter, milk and eggs. Plant growing of this type not only serves animal husbandry, but also meets the needs of the population for food. The main grain crops are wheat, barley, corn, rye. Approximately 1/3 of the grain harvest falls on France, the only major exporter of grain in the region. Among other types of agricultural products, the role of potato production is significant (France, Germany, Great Britain, Poland stand out), sugar beet (France, Germany, Poland).
3. The southern European type (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, the new Balkan countries) is distinguished by a significant predominance of crop production over mountain pasture farming. The main place in crops is occupied by cereals, but the industry of international specialization is the production of fruits, grapes, olives, almonds, tobacco, essential oil crops. Italy is the leader in olive harvesting, grape harvesting and wine production, Spain is the leader in the export of oranges, and Bulgaria in the production and export of rose oil.

Foreign Europe is an area of ​​developed fishing. Some of its countries (Iceland, Norway, Portugal) are among the leaders in marine fisheries.

This industry is highly productive, which is explained not only by favorable climatic conditions, but also by proper technical equipment, rational selection of crops, efficient use of fertilizers, etc. The production of the most important grain crops - wheat and corn - is growing rapidly. Their largest producer is traditionally France, which is one of the ten world leaders in grain exports. Rye is sown in the northern regions. In all countries where brewing has historically developed (Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland), a lot of arable land is allocated for barley, which is used to make beer malt, and in the UK - for making whiskey. In France, in the lower reaches and the delta of the Rhone, one of the few regions in Europe is located where climatic conditions allow the cultivation of rice.

In the vast majority of countries in the region, potatoes are an important food crop, and the Netherlands is a significant seed producer.

Sugar beet predominates among industrial crops. France is the largest sugar producer and exporter in the region, and Belgium is a significant sugar producer. Sugar beets are grown in Germany and in small quantities in other countries. In Germany, hops have become a "national" culture, which is used for brewing; there are also large hop plantations in Belgium, France and Austria. Historically developed areas of flax growing in the north-east and north of France. Significant crops of tobacco - in the central regions of France, southern regions of Belgium and Germany, in the eastern regions of Austria.

An important place is occupied by oilseeds, among which sunflowers dominate, especially in France, the south of which is also famous for the cultivation of olives, from which valuable oil is produced. A part of the corn and rapeseed harvest is also directed to the production of oil.

In the south of France, in the historical regions of Provence and Languedoc, there are large plantations of essential oil crops (sage, rose, rosemary, lavender, etc.), which led to the creation of a network of research institutes and firms in the perfumery and cosmetic industry here.

Traditionally, a prominent place in the diet of the peoples of Western Europe is given to vegetables and fruits. Therefore, many agricultural enterprises in the countries of the region grow different varieties of cabbage (including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), onions, carrots, cucumbers, spinach, and herbs. In the southern regions, especially in France, a lot of acreage is set aside for tomatoes.

On the territory of Western Europe, depending on the climatic conditions for fruit plantations, several "belts" of gardening are distinguished: the northern regions (Alsace, Normandy and Brittany in France, Luxembourg) known for their apple orchards and apple wine (cider); central territories (Lorraine in France, middle course of the Rhine in Germany) - cherry orchards; in areas adjacent to the Mediterranean, thermophilic crops (peaches, apricots, almonds, cherries) are more common.

Greenhouses in the Netherlands and Belgium grow a lot of berries, especially strawberries. Vegetable and floriculture in the Benelux countries is year-round. In terms of the size of greenhouses (the total glazed area exceeds 8.8 thousand hectares), the Netherlands occupies the 1st place in the world.

For a long time already, floriculture has become an independent branch of agriculture in Great Britain, Belgium and especially in the Netherlands, the history of development of which spans 400 years. It not only grows flowers (tulips, roses, carnations, daffodils, chrysanthemums, etc.), but also produces a large number of seeds and flower bulbs. Almost 60% of cut flowers and 50% of indoor flowers sold worldwide were grown in Holland. The largest flower auction in the world is located in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands.

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The agriculture of Europe Abroad has undergone major changes after the Second World War. The general trend of changes is a departure from classical agriculture to a new, high-tech agribusiness.

Characteristic features of the development of agriculture in Europe Abroad

General positive trends in the development of agriculture in Europe are as follows:

• changes in the structure of agriculture in connection with the beginning of the biotechnical revolution;
• change in the structure of sown areas;
• an increase in the variety and calorie content of manufactured products;
• growth in the level of self-sufficiency in the region;
• increase in exports of agricultural products.

These positive trends have led to certain crises in the European agriculture:

• a decrease in the share of the growth in the structure of the pan-European GDP;
• a decrease in the share of the working, active population employed in the industry;
• the crisis of overproduction of agricultural products;
• increased competition between regional producers and between European and American producers;
• strict state regulation of the agricultural sector.

Ultimately, the so-called common European Agrarian Policy was formed, in the conditions of which the agriculture of the region continues to develop.

Fig. 1. Sown fields of foreign Europe

EU Common Agricultural Policy Standards

In a united Europe, common agricultural standards were established:

• the quantity and range of products are regulated;
• provision of farms with technical and production means is regulated;
• staffing is regulated;
• the greening of agricultural production is regulated.

Standardization demanded large expenditures from states, but the quality of products produced by farmers has increased markedly.

The countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which later integrated into the system of common European standards, are just beginning to reform the agricultural sector. But in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, large agro-industrial complexes are beginning to form, operating according to new standards. For example, the production of rose oil is gaining momentum in Bulgaria. Some experts talk about the formation of a new, Eastern European, type of agricultural.

Rice. 2. Rose fields in Bulgaria for the production of rose oil

Types of agriculture overseas Europe

After large-scale reforms and standardization of agricultural production, qualitative changes began to manifest themselves through the narrower specialization of individual regions. Four types of agriculture in Foreign Europe have been formed:

• northern European;
• Central European;
• Eastern European;
• South European.

Data characterizing the main types of agriculture can be presented in a table, which, in turn, can be used in geography lessons in grade 11.

Agricultural type	Main characteristic	Main industries		Countries and Regions
		Livestock	Plant growing
Northern European type	The predominance of meat and dairy farming	Meat and dairy cattle breeding and pig breeding	Cereals and industrial, fodder crops	North of England, Norway, Finland
Central European type	The predominance of animal husbandry in agricultural production and meat and dairy products in the food structure	Meat and dairy farming; intensive pig breeding and extensive sheep breeding	Cultivation of grain and industrial crops; vegetable growing and fruit growing in the minimum amount	Germany, France, Belgium, England, Denmark, Scotland
South European type	The predominance of crop production, and more specifically, grain production in agriculture		Growing of cereals, industrial crops, vegetables, fruits, especially citrus fruits, olives and grapes	Southern France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece
Eastern European type	Formation of the agro-industrial complex in the grain sectors of agricultural production	Extensive sheep breeding	Cultivation of grain crops, vegetable growing on a large scale, fruit growing, viticulture, floriculture	Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary

Rice. 3. Dairy farms in Denmark

Some of the countries of Foreign Europe have a narrow and specific agricultural specialization. For example, the Netherlands specializes in floriculture. It is the largest exporter of bulbous and potted flowers in the world. And the countries of Southern Europe specialize in the cultivation of olives. More than 80% of all olive oil in the world was produced in Southern Europe.

Rice. 4. Growing tulips in the Netherlands

What have we learned?

Agricultural development in Foreign Europe is associated with the introduction of new, common European standards.The specialization of the regions is deepening, but this process makes it possible for certain regions of Foreign Europe to become leaders in the world market of agricultural products.

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