Slovakia seeks €1.8 billion to modernize livestock sector

Slovak livestock producers have outlined a need for roughly €1.8 billion in investment to modernise farms, improve animal welfare, boost bio‑security, digitise herd management, and reduce energy costs. The funding request covers beef cattle (€762.2 m), pig (€737.5 m) and poultry (€302.7 m) sectors and was presented by Jozef Šumichrast, chair of the Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber, alongside industry leaders.

The sector aims to increase competitiveness and self‑sufficiency, urging consumers to value domestic meat’s traceability and quality. Officials highlighted growing pressure from cheap imports, especially Spanish pork and poultry from Poland, Brazil, Romania, the Netherlands, Ukraine, France and Germany, noting 237 non‑conforming poultry samples reported in the EU’s rapid alert system in the first half of 2026.

The investment plan is intended for inclusion in forthcoming EU strategic documents and funding programmes such as the Investment Plan Slovakia and the National and Regional Partnership Plan for EU resources after the 2027 Common Agricultural Policy.