Euronion Meets as European Onion Supplies Tighten
Global onion sector representatives gathered in London for the annual Euronion conference, where fewer and lower-quality European onions were on the agenda.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Have you noticed onion prices or quality getting worse at your grocery store this year?
The annual Euronion conference was held at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, bringing together global onion sector representatives. European onion supplies are lower this season, with more quality issues reported across the region.
Why it matters
Reduced availability and quality of European onions affects supply chains that depend on cross-border trade. Limited access to crop protection products is cited as a contributing factor to the quality problems.
Exports shipped 409,000 tons in the first 14 weeks of the 2026/27 season, and a slightly smaller harvest of about 1.2 million tons is projected for export. The extraction does not provide a baseline from prior seasons for comparison.
The players
Euronion
Euronion is the annual conference that brings together representatives of the global onion sector to share market updates and new developments.
David O'Connor
David O'Connor is the chairman of the Euronion conference, which marked its 30th meeting under his leadership with the presentation of a Golden Onion.
Ecorobotix
Ecorobotix is a company that demonstrated a camera-guided precision sprayer for targeted application of crop protection products and fertilisers.
Sakata Seeds
Sakata Seeds is a seed company that introduced heat-resistant onion varieties at the conference.
The details
Conference attendees heard market updates from country representatives moving north to south, along with presentations on heat-resistant onion varieties from Sakata Seeds and a camera-guided precision sprayer from Ecorobotix. Peter Hartvig of Aarhus University also compiled an overview of crop protection products used across Europe, while governments in all countries have banned products essential for onion cultivation.
Timeline
Tuesday evening: conference welcome and Golden Onion presentation honoring David O'Connor's 30th Euronion meeting as chairman
Wednesday evening: presentations on new developments and country market updates
First 14 weeks of the 2026/27 season: 409,000 tons shipped for export
Culture Shift
The shortage of crop protection products that onion growers rely on has become a barrier to maintaining both quality and volume. Heat-resistant varieties and precision spraying technology are being presented as adaptations to these constraints.
Shoppers may see fewer or lower-quality European onions as supply tightens. The UK's reliance on EU imports means these shortages could reach consumers through grocery prices and availability.
The takeaway
Supply shocks in staple produce often trace back to input restrictions as well as weather. Watching how growers adapt, through new varieties and targeted application technology, offers a sense of where availability may head next.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food to see how crop protection and growing practices shape the produce on store shelves.
Live Poll
Have you noticed onion prices or quality getting worse at your grocery store this year?
