Adriana Sas
Research expert covering the Polish market
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 2.9 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), surpassing the EU average.
In September 2023, the European Commission did not extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain, and Poland implemented the ban independently. In response, the Ukrainian government filed an official complaint with the World Trade Organization. So far, the crisis has not been resolved, which is the reason for a wave of protests by farmers in Poland.
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 59.8 percent of the country's area, with over 73 percent of the soils 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 200 billion zloty in 2022, 137 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 52 billion euros in 2023. 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.Grain crisis a bone of contention in Polish-Ukrainian relation
Ukrainian grain began flowing to Poland after the signing of the Istanbul agreement in July 2022. The main aim was to prevent famine. Poland was to help Ukraine export goods, mainly grain, to developing countries. In 2023, Poland was one of the leading cereal importers from Ukraine. The EU abolished most tariffs on trade with Ukraine. As a result, much of the Ukrainian grain that went to Poland stayed there, causing substantial price drops in local markets, which directly hit Polish farmers. Protests and pressure from Poland and other countries in the region led the European Commission (EC) to ban imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflowers to neighboring countries. Nearly three-quarters of Poles supported this decision.In September 2023, the European Commission did not extend the embargo on Ukrainian grain, and Poland implemented the ban independently. In response, the Ukrainian government filed an official complaint with the World Trade Organization. So far, the crisis has not been resolved, which is the reason for a wave of protests by farmers in Poland.
