Harmonized European Union subnational crop statistics can reveal climate impacts and crop cultivation shifts

• DOI: 10.5194/essd-16-1623-2024
• Publication Date: 2024-03-27T08:12:23Z
• Authors: Giulia Ronchetti; Luigi Nisini Scac...; Lorenzo Seguini; Iacopo Cerrani; Marijn van der Velde
• Keywords: Crop cultivation

Abstract. The availability of coherent time series crop statistics is essential for better analyzing the past, understanding present, and predicting future trends in yield, area, production. Importantly, such data also underpin assessments subsequent policy actions that can shape food systems are more resilient face climate change sustainable terms resource use efficiency. In European Union (EU), there currently no legal obligation EU countries to provide subnational statistics. However, could improve in-season forecasts, impacts adaption need assessments, evaluation agri-environmental schemes. dataset described this paper includes a harmonized collection on production, collected from National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) EUROSTAT REGIO database – voluntarily contributed by countries. crops considered wheat (including soft durum wheat), barley winter spring barley), grain maize, sunflower, sugar beet. All towards hierarchical structure legend regional classification NUTS (Nomenclature Territorial Units Statistics) version 2016, series. A total 344 282 records presented here (115 974 wheat, 122 705 barley, 35 274 34 916 beet, 413 sunflower) 961 regions 27 Statistics reported 1975 2020, with median time-span range 21 years. flagging system details, each record, information sources, processing steps, quality-checking results. This consistency checks between values yield identification null values, missing calculated data, matching, versioning. We illustrate value production zone shifts Europe due climatic economic factors. Recommendations developments collecting at level briefly discussed. accessible Commission Authentication Service (ECAS) login https://doi.org/10.2905/685949ff-56de-4646-a8df-844b5bb5f835 (Ronchetti et al., 2023b).