Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 3/22/2004

**GAIN Report Number:** AU4011

AU4011

**Austria**

**Oilseeds and Products**

**Pumpkin Seed Oil-The \"Green Gold of Styria\", an Austrian Specialty**

**2004**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Sarah Hanson

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Dr. Roswitha Krautgartner

**Report Highlights:**

Styrian pumpkin seed oil is a traditional specialty from the Austrian
eastern provinces of Styria, Burgenland and Lower Austria. The planted
area of oil pumpkin grew from 10,376 (25,640 acres) ha in 2000 to 15,450
ha (38,178 acres) in 2003. This is an increase of 49 %. Total production
of pumpkin seed oil in 2003 amounted to 1.5 million liters. Major export
countries include Germany and other Western European countries. New
target markets, where promotion activities have already started, are
Japan and the United States.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Vienna \[AU1\]

\[AU\]

**General:**

![](media/image2.png)Styrian pumpkin seed oil is a traditional specialty
from the Austrian eastern provinces of Styria, Burgenland and Lower
Austria. Pumpkin seed oil is used for culinary purposes in human
consumption and has a typical strong nutty flavor. It is made from the
seeds of the special Styrian pumpkin, in which the seeds have no hull or
shell. The high level of chlorophyll is responsible for its dark-green
to black color. Pumpkin seed oil is regarded as very healthy because of
it's high level of anti-oxidative substances and unsaturated fatty
acids.

**Production:**

Due to a growing demand on pumpkin seed oil and a relatively high
producer price, oil pumpkin acreage is steadily growing. The planted
area grew from 10,376 (25,640 acres) ha in 2000 to 15,450 ha (38,178
acres) in 2003. This is an increase of 49 %. It can be expected that
there is an additional increase in acreage in 2004 by around 1,000 ha
(2,471 acres). Within the last years oil pumpkin became the third most
important crop in the province of Styria. Pumpkin seed oil production is
an important income source for 10,000 Styrian farmers and 60 oil mills.

Total production of pumpkin seed oil in 2003 amounted to 1.5 million
liters. For one liter of pure pumpkin seed oil, seeds of 30 to 35
pumpkins are required. That corresponds to 2.5 kilograms of seeds or
around 27 square meters (33 square yards) farmland.

**Market:**

Within the last couple of years, total sales of pumpkin seed oil, the so
called "green gold of Styria" increased by 30%. Up to 20 % is exported.
Major export countries are Germany and other Western European countries.
Target figure for exports as defined by the farmers' organization
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil (Erzeugerring Steirisches Kuerbiskernoel)
should amount to 30 % of the total production (500,000 liters). New
target markets, where promotion activities have already started, are
Japan and the United States.

**Protected Declaration of Origin**

![](media/image3.png)

Some 2000 Styrian pumpkin growers and 35 oil mills joined forces to
launch the regional brand "Styrian pumpkin seed oil". This product was
protected in accordance with Article 5 Rules and Regulations (EEC) Nr.
2081/92. Since November 12, 1998 the label "Styrian pumpkin seed oil --
protected declaration of origin" (Steirisches Kurebiskernoel --
geschuetzte geographische Angabe) can officially be used for pumpkin
seed oil meeting the standards and requirements.

The band with unique identification number was introduced to document
the authenticity of Styrian pumpkin seed oil. It guarantees the secured
origin of pumpkin seeds, 100 % pure pumpkin seed oil from the first
pressing and manufacturing by domestic oil presses.