Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Agriculture in Poland - statistics & facts
The landscape of Polish agriculture underwent a profound transformation following the collapse of communism in 1989. This pivotal moment led to the restructuring of the industry, with unprofitable large farms (PGR) transitioning to private individual farms. The subsequent accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004 further bolstered the agricultural sector. EU membership brought direct subsidies for farmers, funds to support the afforestation of uncultivated land, and access to the common market for product sales. Today, Polish agriculture contributes 2.6 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), surpassing the EU average.
The concentration of Polish agriculture is too slow
Polish agriculture is marked by significant fragmentation of farms, with small farms from one to five hectares dominating the landscape. However, there has been a recent increase in large-scale farms, spanning 20 hectares or more. Most of the country's area is lowland, with soils of medium to low agricultural suitability. Agricultural land occupies 59.5 percent of the country's area, with over 75 percent of the soil under cultivation. Despite these promising figures, the share of agricultural land has been gradually declining over the past decade, presenting a key challenge. Other pressing issues include labor outflow, innovation, competitiveness, and environmental protection.Poland is among the top grain producers in the EU
Poland's agriculture saw a sharp increase in production value and agri-food product exports. Gross output amounted to over 186.6 billion zloty in 2023, 121 percent higher than in 2010. The war in Ukraine dominated the year 2022. A sharp increase in input prices, a ban on agricultural products, and food imports to Russia harmed farming. Despite this, Poland recorded a positive trade balance, where exports of agri-food products amounted to nearly 18 billion euros in 2024. Domestic producers sold agri-food products primarily to the EU market. Poland is among the leading grain producers in the EU, with harvests far exceeding domestic consumption. However, meat products were most often exported commodities.Warsaw seeks a blocking minority, citing a threat to farmers from the Mercosur Pact
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, the Polish agricultural market has been experiencing significant turbulence, as cheap Ukrainian grain began to flood European markets, destabilizing food and agricultural markets within the EU. The current situation in Polish agriculture is dominated by EU plans to sign a trade agreement with the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia). Polish farmers believe that the current government is not doing enough to protect their interests and is not effectively fighting to block the agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries. This agreement raises serious concerns due to fears of a flood of cheaper food produced according to standards other than those of the EU. In particular, lower environmental standards and the use of plant protection products in South America that are banned in the European Union are criticized.
