The Polish Meat Association summarized the course of the meeting between representatives of the meat industry and the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski. During the meeting, a number of important conclusions were made that can improve not only the processing plants themselves, but also the livestock production sector.
Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski pointed out that an important task is to increase the export of Polish meat products and their promotion abroad. He emphasized that there is also a need to intensify promotion in the country. The head of the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that an important issue is the fair sharing of the margin among all chain participants from the table.
– It is also important to regulate regulations facilitating the establishment of biogas plants that can process waste from meat production – said Minister Siekierski.
The minister also referred to the recent talks with the Ukrainian side held in Lviv.
– After these talks, it is clear that Ukrainian agriculture is a big competitor to us not only in the area of agricultural production, but also in terms of logistics. We care about the flow of information and good cooperation with the industry. When we do not know how to solve a given problem, we will ask competent people about it. True wisdom is being able to benefit from the knowledge of others. Hence this meeting, emphasized Minister Siekierski.
Poland cannot compete with Ukraine
In turn, industry representatives present at the meeting emphasized the need to develop a strategy for the development of all sectors of the meat industry and to include the promotion of meat products abroad, in particular on third-country markets. They talked about the need to build consumer patriotism and consumer awareness. They emphasized the need to take actions to improve the recognition of Polish products. They also pointed out the need to give up excessive and unreasonable obligations imposed on farmers by the European Commission.
Jacek Zarzecki, president of the Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers, emphasized how important it is to cooperate, speak with one voice and seek compromises.
– It is important that we meet not as sectors, but as the entire industry. The goal is to develop the entire meat and agriculture sector. One sector cannot function without the other. Without animal production, there will be no plant production, Zarzecki said.
He added that it is very important to act on the EU forum.
– We must make the agriculture of the old EU aware that we are unable to withstand competition from Ukraine. We need a development strategy for each meat production sector, which will be combined with the development strategy for the entire agriculture. Bureaucracy should be reduced at the EU and national level, because it is also the cause of farmers’ protests. We need a food promotion strategy because we are a significant and growing food producer. It should be promoted mainly on third markets, he said.
In turn, Paweł Podstawka, chairman of the National Federation of Poultry Breeders and Egg Producers, pointed to the analytical weakness of the industry.
– A very urgent issue to solve is the lack of access to reliable data and market analyses. Our eastern partners are perfectly prepared for the talks. There is a need to reform the reporting of agricultural markets. An analysis department should be implemented. Another problem is the Act on the Agricultural Protection Fund. There are already so many burdens on plants and FOR imposes additional costs. This is adding fuel to the fire. This requires immediate change, he said.
Another issue that needs to be addressed urgently is changes to the law regarding livestock facilities, because these regulations – according to Podstawka – limit development.
Unfair practices of retail chains
In turn, Tomasz Parzybut, president of the Management Board of the Association of Butchers and Meat Producers of the Republic of Poland, pointed to the abnormally low prices in retail chains.
– Retail chains have extremely low prices. We are unable to compete with retail chains. An anti-dumping commission should be created at the Minister of Agriculture, which will help protect the income of farmers and processors, he said.
He drew attention to the problem of environmental decisions that limit investment and development activities. According to him, the urgent problem is to limit vegan products and prepare against the flood of cheap meat from Ukraine. He also expressed the opinion that FOR will not meet the expected expectations of farmers and processors.
Wiesław Różański, president of the management board of the Union of Producers and Employers of the Meat Industry (UPEMI), pointed to the problem related to the Act on Counteracting the Unfair Use of Contractual Advantage in the Trade of Agricultural and Food Products.
– The Act on Counteracting Unfair Use of Contractual Advantage in Trade in Agricultural and Food Products does not protect us. I propose to follow other solutions in Germany and transfer them to the Polish law. Currently, supermarkets legally use their advantage because they use market tools, said President Różański.
He proposed to create a special body, the Commission for Competitiveness, which would analyze practices of abuse of contractual advantage.
It is necessary to develop a strategy for rebuilding pig production
Witold Choiński, president of the management board of the POLSKIE MIĘSO Association, drew attention to five problems.
– A more determined fight against African swine fever (ASF) is necessary. The actions taken are ineffective. It is necessary to consider how to provide even more assistance to farmers and plants located in the zones. Another important issue for the pork sector is the development of a strategy for the reconstruction of the pig sector. The Polish pig industry has been in crisis for years. Currently, the pig population in Poland is lower than after the end of World War II. Over the last 10 years, many attempts have been made to remedy this situation. Industry organizations then prepared the first pig reconstruction strategy. Unfortunately, the assumptions and ideas presented therein were not implemented by those in power. On January 4, 2024, the National Pork Council was established, whose primary goal will be to prepare a strategy for the development of the pig industry, in particular the reconstruction of the sow population and domestic production of piglets, said President Choiński.
The third important problem is the Act amending the Act on Spatial Planning and Development and certain other acts, which affects agriculture in the field of animal breeding.
– We are requesting the creation of mechanisms, indicators or conversion factors (e.g. the number of locations of new piggeries in relation to farms keeping pigs or in relation to the number of pigs in a given commune) ensuring that specific areas are included as intended for agricultural production – proposed Witold Choiński.
In his opinion, the Act on the commercial quality of agricultural and food products also requires changes in terms of penalties for natural meat leakage.
– Meat plants are punished by IJHARS inspectors. We have done scientific research on poultry, pork and beef leaks and there is no doubt that the leak is natural and not an adulterated product, he said.
The last problem noticed by President Witold Choiński is the share of private labels in chains.
– The share is over 80 percent and retail chains juggle suppliers to obtain the best price – emphasized the president of the management board of the Polish Meat Association.
