The DACH region is defined by its robust agricultural sector and related industries. Germany, with its extensive agricultural landscape, boasts around 263,000 farms, while Austria and Switzerland account for approximately 155,900 and 48,000 farms, respectively. These farms serve as the foundation of the region’s agribusiness and food production industries.

Germany stands as a global leader in beer production, supported by roughly 1,500 breweries, with Austria and Switzerland contributing approximately 320 and 1,200 breweries, respectively. Milling also plays a key role, with 550 commercial mills in Germany, 160 in Austria, and 120 in Switzerland. The wine industry, particularly prominent in Germany, is home to about 18,000 wineries, followed by 6,500 in Austria and 1,500 in Switzerland. Distilleries are equally vital, with Germany housing an impressive 22,000, many of which are small, private operations, while Austria and Switzerland have 4,500 and 2,000 distilleries, respectively.

The bakery sector is similarly significant, particularly in Germany with around 12,000 bakeries, both industrial and medium-sized. Austria and Switzerland maintain a strong presence in this sector as well, with 1,000 and 1,800 bakeries, respectively.

Biofuel production has grown in importance across the region, with Germany leading with about 250 biofuel plants, followed by 15 in Austria and 10 in Switzerland. The feed mill sector also underpins the agricultural supply chain, with Germany having 300 feed mills, Austria 80, and Switzerland 100.

In terms of land use, Germany’s total farmland encompasses 16.6 million hectares, while Austria and Switzerland use 2.6 million and 1 million hectares for agriculture, respectively. Forestry also plays a role, with Germany managing 11.4 million hectares of forest, Austria 3.4 million hectares, and Switzerland 1.3 million hectares.

The livestock sector is substantial across the DACH region. In Germany, the population includes 11.3 million cattle, 25.5 million pigs, and 160 million poultry. Austria, by comparison, has approximately 1.9 million cattle, 2.7 million pigs, and 16 million poultry, while Switzerland hosts around 1.5 million cattle, 1.5 million pigs, and 10 million poultry. Equine numbers are smaller but still notable, with 1.3 million horses in Germany, 80,000 in Austria, and 100,000 in Switzerland.

These figures underline the DACH region’s immense agricultural and food production capacity, showcasing the wide variety of industries that bolster its economic strength.

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