Traditionally, Timac Agro organized a meeting with customers in May, during which the final of the lottery took place. But also the discussion “Farm the future. The future of agriculture starts today.” Below we focus on the substantive part, in the next article we will reveal the results of the draw.
The guests of the event were welcomed by Agata Scheppler, Operational Marketing Manager and Piotr Kotowski, Product Manager Agro, who also continued the meeting.
– The future of agriculture is every decision we make on the farm today. This is the beginning of what will happen tomorrow. It is up to you, your decision, how agriculture will develop, he said to the farmers.
“Farm the future. The future of agriculture starts today”
He focused on interaction with the participants, because various questions were asked during the meeting, and the answers were counted and published on an ongoing basis. The questions were crucial because they later “built” Piotr Kotowski’s entire lecture. What did they sound like? First: How many acidic and very acidic soils with pH<5.5 do you think there are in Poland? Second: The average humus content in Polish soils is, in my opinion, at the level? Third: In terms of the consumption of artificial fertilizers per 1 ha, is Poland in the European Union? Fourth: How much can water retention per 1 ha increase with a 1% increase in the humus content in the soil? Do you know the answer to these questions?
Against this background, Piotr Kotowski presented the facts. He recalled, among other things, that in Poland 58.2 percent soil has a pH below 5.5, i.e. acidic.
– If there is not the right pH, the soil does not function as it should. There is no processing of the matter that remains in the field. Fertilizers are also not fully utilized as we would expect. This translates into soil fertility and water capacity, explained Kotowski.
He also presented a map (below) showing the clear distribution of the pH of arable soils in Europe and how our country compares to this. He talked about the balance of soil organic matter in individual voivodeships in Poland, and about the spatial variability of humus content.
Piotr Kotowski also provided data on the consumption of mineral fertilizers in the European Union from 2021, i.e. before the great confusion on the markets and high prices. Well, as he pointed out, it amounted to 10.9 million tons, of which as many as 9.8 million tons were nitrogen fertilizers and 1.1 million tons – phosphorus fertilizers. How do we compare to other countries? In the case of nitrogen fertilizers themselves, the highest consumption was in France, followed by Germany, Poland and Spain, but this also translates into the size of arable land in these individual countries. In general, however, in the overall consumption of mineral fertilizers in kg of pure ingredient per ha of UAA in the 2021/2022 season, Poland was in sixth place with approximately 120 kg, behind Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Croatia and Hungary. The average for the EU at that time was 88 kg. What dangers did he see in this? Higher fertilizer consumption increases costs without guaranteeing higher yields. Moreover, it contributes to lower biodiversity of the soil ecosystem and a negative balance of organic matter.
Finally, he also presented the product range of Timac Agro Polska, which, as he says, provides solutions that regenerate the soil.
– What do we have first of all? We have people who come to you to advise, suggest and select appropriate solutions. We have subservices, i.e. activities where we investigate specific problems in the field. We provide fertilizers that guarantee effectiveness, we do not only provide products that contain phosphorus and potassium, but we provide a product that, if it contains an ingredient, is supposed to work, nourish the plant and bring a specific, measurable effect. In addition, we introduce innovations that are tailored to the needs, said Kotowski. He added that the company also cares about the soil ecosystem, because it offers comprehensive fertilizers, as well as soil conditioners, biostimulants and liquid fertilizers.
Discussion about the future of agriculture
An important part of the event was a discussion, attended by experts invited by the company. They were: prof. UPP Ph.D. Witold Szczepaniak, prof. UPP Ph.D. Łukasz Sobiech, Ph.D. Eng. Jerzy Próchnicki and Dr. Paweł Krawiec. The discussion was very interesting and touched on many topics related to sustainable, regenerative and carbon agriculture.
Dr. Próchnicki spoke, among others: about the threats related to climate change and how they will also affect agricultural production around the world. He talked about the challenges associated with it and minimizing the effects.
– Agriculture has a special role in this, because no other sector of the economy and human activity, apart from agriculture and forestry and other areas (wasteland), is able to bind greenhouse gases – he emphasized. And as he added, this is the goal of all forms of sustainable agriculture that take steps to limit and eliminate the impact of agriculture on the environment, while ensuring profitability of production and its social acceptance.
Prof. talked about fertilization and its effectiveness. Szczepaniak. The principle of interactivity with the participants was also maintained in the discussion and the question was asked whether we are able to reduce the level of fertilization with basic nutrients and obtain profits on the farm? The professor also responded by emphasizing that a lot depends on the actions of the farmer himself.
– Also, how do we want to achieve this profit, because if it results from the fact that we strive for greater and greater efficiency, I am afraid that in Polish conditions we are not able to reduce the level of fertilization, and we should balance this fertilization and maintain the relationship . Nevertheless, looking at the natural fertility of the soil, maintain it to keep the economy competitive. However, if geopolitical relations change and we can produce cheaper inputs, reduce fertilization and, consequently, lower yields, but we will have higher income per unit of yield, we can follow this path – replied Prof. Witold Szczepaniak.
He also noted that the main factor limiting the yield in Poland is the amount and distribution of rainfall, because without water there is no effective fertilization.
Dr. Krawiec talked about his experiences on a multi-generational horticultural farm, where undoubtedly the most sustainable production was conducted by his grandfather.
Prof. Łukasz Sobiech, in turn, commented, among others: to the current situation in the fields, i.e. first a significant acceleration of vegetation, and then cooling. The question for the audience this time was: do you think that thanks to the use of biostimulating and biological preparations you will be able to produce at the same level despite the reduction of available active substances?
The scientist answered yes, but at the same time he asked. – Do the regulations we have suit us and are we able to produce equally well, or at the same level? We can discuss, but will it be profitable for us in the end? Agriculture is a part of the economy in which not only financial results are important, but it is also a kind of hobby, he emphasized. Ultimately, as he stated, profitability is key, hence certain forms of agriculture, whether sustainable or, for example, integrated, should be stimulated with subsidies.
