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Polish poultry industry is thriving. Total production in 2017 is assessed at record-breaking 3 m tonnes. The consumption of poultry is also growing to more than 30 kg per person a year. As much as 45 percent of poultry production is being exported. In 2017, we exported nearly 1,2 m tonnes with a value of PLN 8.3 bn. Polish poultry is exported mainly to European markets. In order to keep it on a relatively high level, Polish producers have to seek customers outside Europe.

Poland produced 2.3 m tonnes of sugar last year after the lifting of the sugar-beet and sugar quotas. This has led to a surplus of more than 600,000 tonnes on the domestic market. Exports to non-EU markets might be a solution to this problem. This, however, would require an appropriate system of logistics and infrastructure. To this end, Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa will build a new terminal in the Port of Gdańsk, allowing for the exports of about 300,000 tonnes of sugar a year.

The Common Agricultural Policy is essential. It is key for profitability and determines how much Polish farmers and agri-food companies earn,” argues Henryk Wroniewski, President of the Management Board, Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa. Work is currently under way to formulate the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2020. For Poland, the priority is to ensure equal direct subsidies. This is the only way to make sure that Polish farmers can stay competitive on the European market. In some cases, the current subsidies are three times lower than in Western Europe. This is significant as over the last decade direct subsidies made up almost half of what farmers earned.

The African swine fever virus, low pigs production profitability and the dependence of the domestic market on European prices are the major problems faced by breeders today. The much needed solution might be biosafety, which protects pigs from infectious agents. Its tightened regulations are one of the main tools used in fighting ASF and enable farmers to reduce the veterinary treatment costs and mortality rate of pigs.

Finnish agricultural technologies are known worldwide for their high quality and efficiency. This is due to the climate conditions and high investments in research and development. Cutting-edge Finnish technologies can also increase the efficiency of Polish agriculture. Their machine producers and companies operating in the field of agrotechnology are looking for partners and distributors in Poland.

The maximum reduction of boar populations to avoid the ASF spreading, the protection from secondary infections within Polish borders and the biosafety of Polish agricultural holdings are the priorities in fighting down the ASF, commonly referred to as Asfivirus. The 108th epidemic focus was identified by the end of February. Some of the farmers sustaining production losses due to ASF have already submitted applications for financial compensation.