Poland's agriculture grapples with climate risks, market shocks and falling profitability

Polish agriculture is confronting a convergence of climate change, geopolitical turbulence and market pressures that threaten national food security. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Adam Nowak highlighted recent heat waves, floods and frosts, while the war in Ukraine and rising natural‑gas prices have driven up fertilizer costs and spurred grain‑export disruptions.

Import of fresh strawberries has nearly doubled over the past two years, reaching a record 35 000 tonnes in 2026, driven mainly by supplies from Greece, Spain, Serbia and occasional shipments from Egypt.

The pig sector is in crisis: analyses by the Wielkopolska Chamber of Agriculture show that an open‑cycle gilt now incurs a loss of over 400 zł per animal, driven by falling feed prices and higher costs of commodity inputs.

The seed‑potato market has collapsed, with thousands of tonnes of qualified seed tubers destroyed and only contract holders able to sustain production.

Blackcurrant supplies are scarce, with wholesale prices soaring up to 60 zł per kilogram after a heat‑driven poor harvest.

At the same time, Polish food exporters are shifting strategy, emphasizing quality, branding and new markets in the Gulf states and Asia as cost‑advantage erodes within the EU.