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Asparagus cultivation in China started in the 1970s and has since taken off. China is now the world’s top producer, with an asparagus area of around 100,000 ha and just five provinces together growing 60% of its total crop.The asparagus market in China was forecast to reach a value of about US$32.44 billion by 2023, followed by further growth to $40.79 billion by 2029 thanks to a 3.9% growth rate. About 70% of China’s crop is consumed domestically – with green asparagus the type preferred by Chinese consumers – and the rest is exported. Efforts to further expand and enhance the asparagus industry in China are imperative in order to meet the growing demands of both domestic and foreign markets. But the industry faces challenges such as relatively low average yields compared to those in Europe, resulting in a loss rate of nearly 40% before the product even reaches the consumer.

What keeps China from growing more asparagus?

The development of the Chinese asparagus industry faces several limitations that need to be addressed for sustainable growth. These include:

1. Disarray in the asparagus seed market: lack of quality seeds
2. Lagging cultivation techniques
3. Stem blight disease

To address these barriers, researchers are working on a breeding program focused on developing asparagus cultivars with traits including resistance to cold temperatures (cultivar can reach as low as -35°C), tolerance to saline (up to 0.4% salinity) and alkaline soils, and resistance to diseases. There are already over 30 commercial cultivars available in the market as a result of these breeding efforts.

Overly generalised approach to asparagus farming in China

Today’s asparagus management in China tends to be overly generic. More than 50% of asparagus growers in China are relatively new to the industry, driven by the high profit potential. These growers acquire their skills through training provided by local agricultural centres or by following the instructions of experienced neighbours. To manage fertiliser and irrigation practices, many Chinese growers rely on the guidance of the “Green Asparagus Book”, a standard management manual developed by local agricultural research centres. This manual has become popular for its comprehensive 
instructions for growers.

The farm management approach outlined in the “Green Asparagus Book” provides standard procedures to simplify the management process. This approach provides a comprehensive to-do list for growers to follow. While this approach is generally effective, it may not be suitable for all climate conditions or geographical factors. Certain exceptional circumstances, such as unpredictable climate changes or specific geographical conditions, can arise where this “one size fits all” solution may not be a perfect match.

Call for low-cost precision agriculture technology for asparagus cultivation in China

The integration of precision agriculture techniques in asparagus production plays a vital role in optimising crop management and promoting sustainable growth. European asparagus growers have the advantage of accessing multiple types of precision agriculture technologies and are strongly supported by the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In contrast, Chinese growers often do not embrace precision agriculture – instead relying on their experience or following standard guides to manage their crops – and they often face difficulties in adopting precision agriculture tools due to factors including cost constraints. Since they tend to farm relatively small plots, averaging around 2 ha, and sell their produce to distributors at a relatively low price of $1,000 per ton, these technologies can be overly costly for them to invest in. Therefore, “There is a pressing need for the development of low-cost precision agriculture technologies that are more accessible and practical for Chinese growers,” says Dean JiQin Yu (Asparagus Industry Research Center, WFIT, China).

Sensor fusion technology

Great potential lies in utilising sensor fusion technology – such as drones or satellite imagery – to provide valuable information on crop health, growth patterns and potential stress factors. Soil testing can also be employed to assess nutrient levels and pH, guiding specific fertiliser requirements. Consulting companies that specialise in sensor data fusion and machine learning interpretation can play a crucial role in bridging the gap for growers. They can provide management kits that utilise collected data to make informed decisions and optimise crop management practices. Implementing such technology is considered a worthwhile investment for Chinese growers, as it can provide fundamental technical support, allowing them to quantify and visualise various aspects of asparagus cultivation.

VRA automated fertigation systems

The management of fertiliser and irrigation constitutes a significant portion of raw material inputs and labour costs in asparagus production. Some Chinese growers have experimented with locally designed fertigation systems. However, these systems have primarily focused on mixing and supplying fertilisers without the support of data or reliability. For growers utilising flooding systems, prescription data can serve as a reference to determine the precise duration of flooding. Growers using modified dripping fertigation systems could leverage Variable Rate Application (VRA) technology to control the velocity of the dripper, ensuring precise application of fertilisers. This approach generally leads to higher yields and cost reduction.

Robotic harvest machinery

Asparagus production is a labour-intensive industry that relies heavily on manual labour. Labour costs in asparagus production have risen 52% worldwide in the last five years, presenting a challenge for China’s growers. The development of cost-effective robotic systems for asparagus harvesting could provide labour savings and enhance efficiency.

Evaluation of precision agriculture technology

The aim of calling for low-cost precision agriculture technology for asparagus cultivation in China is to create a more efficient and environmentally friendly system for asparagus growers, while ensuring higher yields and superior quality of asparagus produce. Before implementing precision agriculture techniques in asparagus cultivation, it is important to analyse their potential impact and benefits. The University of Bologna in Italy is currently developing an integrated LCC (Life Cycle Costing), LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), and S-LCA (Social Life Cycle Assessment) framework for this purpose. It expects that by applying precision agriculture tools in asparagus cultivation, the use of fertilisers can be optimised, resulting in a significant reduction in emissions such as CO2 and NO3 and thus a positive environmental impact. The ongoing R&D in precision agriculture techniques for asparagus cultivation will contribute to the advancement of more sustainable agriculture generally.

Italy’s production covers all three types of Asparagus officinalis: green (70%), white (25%) and purple (5%) asparagus. Green asparagus is grown from north to south in all Italian regions; white asparagus is also widespread, but especially in the north-east of Italy; and purple asparagus crops are found in the northwest, particularly in Liguria.

High-quality white asparagus

In total, asparagus accounts for 8,300 ha of the “Italian boot”. But production is concentrated in Puglia, which grows about 45% of the national total, followed by Veneto with 23%, and Emilia-Romagna, Lazio and Campania with 6% each. The cultivation of asparagus in greenhouses spans about 500 ha, mainly in the Campania region. In 2024, Italy produced around 45,000 tons of asparagus. After averaging out the differences between the production areas in northern and southern Italy – accentuated by the effects of climate change – the national yield is about 5.5 tons/ha. In 2024, Italy was still exporting more asparagus than it imported, sending about 7,850 tons to other markets (mainly green asparagus to Northern Europe) from March to June, but with the majority of exports during March and April. Italy has also found an attractive outlet in Japan for its high-quality white asparagus (e.g. the Asparago Bianco di Bassano PDO). Its imports totalled just 2,650 tons and came mainly from Spain, Peru and Mexico and over February to May, but particularly the latter four months.

Varieties adapted well to different situations

Italy grows many asparagus varieties due to its 1,200-km-long production area. In the south, American F1 varieties such as UC 157, Grande and Atlas predominate, but there are also Dutch varieties such as Starlin, Vegalim and Lunalim, and Italian cultivars such as Italo and Vittorio. In the north, many varieties grown for the production of green asparagus are of Italian origin, for example Athos, Eros, Ercole, Giove, Franco and Vittorio. There is also a significant presence of Dutch hybrids such as Avalim, Grolim, Thielim, Vitalim and Verdus. For the production of white asparagus, Dutch hybrids such as Avalim, Grolim, Prius and Thielim are commonly planted. Italian hybrids such as Giove, Vittorio, Zeno, and the German variety Cumulus, are also used for the production of both white and green asparagus. There are also the French cultivars Darzilla (for green asparagus) and Dariana (for white asparagus). Others have also been reported, as it is always hard to find the varieties that adapt best to different production situations. In the last two years, seeds for Italian and American varieties have been in short supply so there has been some investment in Dutch cultivars instead. Trials seem to show that when grown in Italy, the Dutch varieties deliver excellent productive capacity in the first years of cultivation but this then slows compared to the Italian cultivars which, over time, gain in productivity and display greater longevity.

Need for varieties adapted to climate change

The labour shortage is a key barrier to increasing Italy’s planted area for asparagus. The lack of workers has become a real obstacle to expansion of the crop and is pushing up hourly costs. In general, the production costs of asparagus are also increasing due to rising prices for inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides, and plastic covering materials for white asparagus. At the same time, in recent years a significant reduction in production has been caused by atypical weather characterised by heavy spring rainfall combined with low temperatures. Furthermore, very high summer temperatures have limited the crop’s vegetative development. In 2024, the main region of Puglia suffered more than 14 days of temperatures above 40°C with spikes of up to 45°C. These climate extremes have reduced producers’ incomes. Looking ahead, asparagus growers need research to identify new cultivars that are more resistant to climate change and classic diseases in humid environments in spring, especially in northern Italy, and cultivars that are resistant to drought and high temperatures for southern Italy.

A record in quality seals

Boosting asparagus consumption in Italy is not proving easy. Data from the last 3-4 years shows that only 45% of Italian families eat asparagus at least once a year. The average consumption per consumer family is just 2.7 kg, a total restricted by the high cost of white and green asparagus, which is mainly sold in supermarkets. Unfortunately, asparagus has failed to capture the interest of Italy’s younger generation, who consider it difficult to cook. But a more positive figure for Italian asparagus involves its recognition under the European PDO and PGI quality seals: Italian asparagus has six such recognitions of excellence – a record in Europe! In white asparagus they are the Cimadolmo PGI, Badoere PGI, Cantello PGI, and the Bassano PDO, a consumer favourite, while in green asparagus there’s the Canino PGI and Altedo PGI.

Based in the north-eastern Porto, Pedro Martins Da Costa is first and foremost a winegrower. But his desire to try a different crop led him to produce asparagus. “It’s a healthy product that’s different to grapes and high in both taste and economic value,” he says. Thus Martins Da Costa came to France, south of Bordeaux, to learn how to grow asparagus before starting his own plantation in 2018.

Make the harvest last as long as possible

Today, he has 5 ha of asparagus on several fields on his farm. He uses suitable areas at the bottom of a slope with very fertile soil or at the top of a hill with sandier soil. It’s the first time this crop has been grown on this land and the asparagus, mainly green and cultivated in a very protected environment, carries the organic label. “I planted three Planasa varieties with different degrees of precocity in order to space out my production period,” says Martins Da Costa. Placosesp is an early, hardy and very productive variety, while Darzilla and Darvador are vigorous and hardy. Martins Da Costa uses mini tunnels to obtain greater precocity (+15 days) and also white plastic to limit the heating of the mound for white asparagus in order to prolong his harvests as long as possible.

« Very rewarding work »

Martins Da Costa sees a long asparagus season as key to providing his customers with extended supply. On average, his yields are 7-8 tons/ha but up to 11 tons depending on the age of the asparagus plantation and the field. His asparagus is sold under the “Espargos verdes” brand and direct to restaurants, organic stores and private homes. “Since Covid, we have developed direct sales with the pos- sibility of delivering a bunch of asparagus anywhere in the country one day after the order is placed,” says Martins Da Costa. The young producer is very active in promoting his asparagus on social media and to restaurant chefs. “It’s both well-rewarded and very gratifying work,” he says. His objective is to expand these direct sales by slightly increasing his asparagus area and by diversifying with other crops, particularly berries.