Winter Rye (Secale cereale L.) is an important part of European agriculture, accounting for 86% of world rye production. The main producers are Germany, Poland, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Denmark, Ukraine and Spain, accounting for 75% of total rye production. China, Canada and the USA are also among the top 10 producers by a considerable margin. The average grain yield is highest in Denmark (6.1 t/ha) and Germany (5.3 t/ha), but very low worldwide (2.9 t/ha). This is a consequence of rye being often grown on the poorest soils with low nutrient and water holding capacity. Of the cereals, rye is the best able to cope with these conditions, but on better soils grain yields of up to 10 t/ha are possible. Rye is a versatile crop that can be used for various purposes. Its grain can be used for baking bread, feeding livestock, or producing alcohol for beverages (including whisky) and bioethanol. The green biomass can be utilized for grazing, forage, landscaping, or as a substrate for biogas production. In Europe, rye is mainly used for bread making, feeding animals, and methane production. Rye is beneficial for human nutrition because of its high content of dietary fiber and bioactive compounds.