High-value crops (HVC) are agricultural products that have a higher market value compared to conventional crops. This is usually due to the fact that they are only cultivated in limited quantities or that they are suitable for specific purposes or high price market segments because of their unique characteristics and properties.
Examples of HVC include special varieties of fruit and vegetables such as exotic varieties, herbs or rare varieties that command a higher price due to their unique taste, their colour or their nutritional value. Another important HVC category is medicinal plants and herbs that are used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, for example cannabis.
The technologies that are used in HVC production vary depending on the plant species and the cultivation system. HVC such as herbs, spices and lettuces are often cultivated in hydroponics and aquaponics, for instance, as these systems reduce the need for water and fertilisers and enable cultivation in limited spaces.
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