Poland – Towards top of EU pig production!?
Poland is rapidly emerging as a key player in EU pig production. The EPP Congress 2026 offered a unique opportunity to understand the structural changes, challenges, and prospects shaping the Polish pig farming sector and their impact on the European and global market.
European Pig Production: Shifting Dynamics
European pig production has undergone profound structural changes since the 1990s. Spain emerged as the clear winner, growing its pig population by +46% between 2006 and 2025, driven by export orientation, integration and economies of scale. All other major producers recorded declines: Denmark −5%, the Netherlands −8%, Belgium −17%, Germany and France both −20%. Germany, once the engine of European pig production, now faces major structural contraction due to stricter legislation and growing societal pressure. The Netherlands remains a global productivity leader but operates under intense environmental constraints. Denmark continues to set global benchmarks in genetics, efficiency and piglet exports.
Against this backdrop, Spain has become the undisputed European leader, while the retreat of Germany and others is opening new opportunities for countries like Poland.
Poland: A Sector in Decline – but Consolidating
Poland recorded the deepest reduction of any major producer, with the pig population falling by 47% across three distinct crises: from 19 million heads after EU accession (2004) to 14 million (2007–08), further to 11 million (2010–11), and most recently from 12 million to around 9 million (2021–23). The number of pig farms collapsed by 86% — from approximately 315,000 to just 43,000 holdings. The sow population declined by 66%, and Poland's pork self-sufficiency dropped from 101% to 87%, making the country a net importer of pork. Piglet imports from Denmark alone surged by +203% between 2013 and 2025, reaching nearly 7.8 million heads.
Yet behind these figures lies a significant structural transformation. The average herd size grew by +294% — from 54 to 213 pigs — and slaughterings increased by 13% despite fewer farms, reflecting substantial efficiency gains. Three business models now coexist: vertically integrated systems (covering over 40% of production, with no market risk for farmers), horizontally integrated cooperatives, and independent producers. Consolidation is ongoing, though Poland's average herd size of 219 pigs still lags far behind Spain (~970), Germany (~1,300), the Netherlands (~5,000) and Denmark (~5,800).
Polish agriculture remains one of the most fragmented in the EU, with around 1.2 million farms averaging just 11.4 ha — compared to 256,000 farms averaging 65 ha in Germany. Only around 300,000 Polish farms produce commercially for the market.
Key Challenges
African Swine Fever (ASF) is the most acute threat, with 1,081 wild boar outbreaks recorded in Poland as of May 2026. ASF has forced strict biosecurity obligations, depopulation measures and continuous monitoring, and has directly contributed to the exit of smaller farms unable to finance the required standards.
Market pressures include volatile feed and pig prices, the influence of China's swine population fluctuations on global pork markets, Spain's surplus production weighing on EU prices, and the impact of the Ukraine war on grain, fertilizer and energy costs.
Future challenges encompass rising production costs under the EU Green Deal, growing vegan and animal rights movements influencing policy, new free trade agreements (e.g. MERCOSUR), planned restrictions on live animal transport, and an extremely slow investment approval process. At the farm level, profitability is also constrained by small farm sizes, low production efficiency, insufficient health and welfare standards, and a lack of collective political lobbying.
Potentials and the Path Forward
Poland combines a strong agricultural foundation — 14.8 million ha of arable land, abundant grain production, a growing investment base and an entrepreneurial culture — with significant remaining potential for modernization and scaling. The sector's ongoing consolidation is moving it towards a more professional, integrated and competitive model.
The Goodvalley example illustrates what is possible: one of Poland's top three pig producers operates 20,000 sows across 28 farms, processes 13,500 pigs per week at its own slaughterhouse, and runs 7 biogas plants covering 100% of its electricity needs. Its fully circular production model — own crops, own feed mill, pig farming, biogas from manure, natural fertilization back to fields — reduces greenhouse gas emissions and covers 70% of nitrogen needs internally. Precision farming and reduced tillage (since 2003) have cut nitrous oxide emissions by approximately 50%.
Europe's competitive advantage overall lies not in volume but in quality, food safety, animal health, knowledge, technology and climate performance — areas where a modernized Polish sector could contribute significantly. Poland has been selected as the International Farmers' Day country at EuroTier 2026, underlining its growing strategic importance within European livestock production. The central question posed by the EPP Congress is not whether Poland can grow, but whether it can build a sector that is economically strong, socially accepted and sustainably competitive — and the presentations of the speakers suggest that, with the right investments and structural reforms, the answer can be yes.
Sven Häuser, EPP Manager (June 2026)
2:00 p.m.
Opening
Gert van Beek, EPP President
2:05 p.m.
Welcome & Introduction
Karol Bujoczek (Moderator), top agrar Polska
2:15 p.m.
Structural changes, challenges and prospects for the development of the pig farming sector in Poland
Aleksander Dargiewicz, President POLPIG
3:00 p.m.
The future role of pork as a tasty, valuable and climate efficient protein source
(What have we achieved, what are our challenges?)
Dr. Gereon Schulze Althoff, Chief Sustainability Officer Premium Food Group
3:45 p.m. | Break
4:15 p.m.
What is the key determinant of pig production profitability – the farmer, the market or higher power?
Dr. Tomasz Schwarz, Agriculture University of Cracow
4:45 p.m.
Goodvalley – sustainable production of pork in unsustainable environment
Grzegorz Brodziak, Goodvalley Agro S.A. / POLPIG
5:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Poland towards top of EU pig production
- Dr. Tomasz Schwarz
- Aleksander Dargiewicz
- Dr. Gereon Schulze Althoff
- Grzegorz Brodziak
6:00 p.m. | Break
6:15 p.m.
EPP General Assembly (for members only!)
Gert van Beek, EPP President
8:30 a.m.
Key factors affecting the rearing of suckling piglets
Prof. Anna Rząsa, Agricultural University Wrocław
9:10 a.m.
Lung Health Pays Off: Economic Value of the Ceva Lung Program for Farmers and Slaughterhouses
dr. vet. Christoph Wähner, IMVACC - Veterinary Services Manager Swine Ost
9:30 a.m.
Healthy gut – healthy pig, how to achieve it?
Dr. Tomasz Schwarz, Agriculture University of Cracow
10:15 a.m. | Start Excursion – Part I
Excursion – Part I – Group A
| 10:30 - 12:00 start from Andersia Hotel to Kuklinów |
| 12:00 - 1:30 visit of AGROINTEGRACJA (Wojciech Styburski farm) - Kuklinów |
| 1:30 - 2:30 start from Kuklinów to Nowa Wieś |
| 2:30 - 4:00 visit of Bogusław Prałat farm - Nowa Wieś |
| 4:00 - 5:00 back to Andersia Hotel |
Excursion – Part I – Group B
| 10:30 - 12:00 start from Andersia Hotel to Nowa Wieś |
| 12:00 - 1:30 visit of Bogusław Prałat farm - Nowa Wieś |
| 1:30 - 2:30 start from Nowa Wieś to Kuklinów |
| 2:30 - 4:00 visit of AGROINTEGRACJA (Wojciech Styburski farm) - Kuklinów |
| 4:00 - 5:00 back to Andersia Hotel |
AGROINTEGRACJA
AgroIntegracja is a modern agricultural organization based in Wielkopolska, with one of its key locations in Kuklinów. The company focuses on integrating farmers through the creation and management of producer groups, offering comprehensive support in areas such as agricultural consulting, legal and financial services, and assistance with national and EU subsidies.Operating in sectors including pig production, cattle fattening, and crop cultivation, AgroIntegracja provides farmers with tools to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen their market position. Its activities in Kuklinów contribute to the development of sustainable and innovative agriculture, combining modern solutions with strong regional farming traditions.
Bogusław Prałat farm
Bogusław Prałat operates a modern, dynamically developing agricultural farm located in Nowa Wieś, in the Wielkopolska region. The farm covers around 100 hectares and is primarily focused on pig production, managing nearly 300 sows in a closed-cycle system. In recent years, the farm has invested in innovative and sustainable solutions, including a biogas plant, which supports energy efficiency and environmentally friendly production.
8:30 a.m.
Lung health in fattening pigs: Impacts on meat quality and economic losses
Dr. Paulina Przyborowska, Agricultural University of Olsztyn
9:10 a.m.
The Future of Swine Traceability
Daniel El-Noshokaty, Public Policy Lead at MSD Animal Health D&AT
9:30 a.m.
WelFarmers - Revolutionising pig farming with best practices
Neil Joseph Tirchett, Pig & Poultry Research and Knowledge Transfer Department
10:15 a.m. | Start Excursion – Part II
Excursion – Part II – Group A
| 10:30 - 12:00 start from Andersia Hotel Zakrzewo |
| 12:00 - 1:30 visit of TERRAEXIM AGROIMPEX - Zakrzewo |
| 1:30 - 2:30 start from Zakrzewo to Poznań |
| 2:30 - 4:00 visit of Poznan Agricultural University of Animal Welfare and Health Center - Poznań |
| 4:00 - 5:00 back to Andersia Hotel |
Excursion – Part II – Group B
| 10:30 - 12:00 start from Andersia Hotel to University |
| 12:00 - 1:30 visit of Poznan Agricultural University of Animal Welfare and Health Center - Poznań |
| 1:30 - 2:30 start from Poznań to Zakrzewo |
| 2:30 - 4:00 visit of TERRAEXIM AGROIMPEX - Zakrzewo |
| 4:00 - 5:00 back to Andersia Hotel |
Poznan Agricultural University of Animal Welfare and Health Center
The University Center for Animal Welfare and Health in Poznań is a modern research facility of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, designed to advance cutting-edge studies in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, biology, and preclinical research. The center features state-of-the-art laboratories, animal housing units, imaging and diagnostic facilities, and specialized teaching and research spaces. Its mission is to support innovative, interdisciplinary work that enhances animal health, promotes sustainable husbandry practices, and addresses climate-related challenges. Serving as a hub of scientific collaboration, the center brings together experts from diverse research fields and works closely with industry partners. It aims to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions for animal care, environmental protection, and public health, positioning itself as one of Poland’s leading institutions in animal welfare research.
Congress participants will take part in lung anatomopathology workshops using the CLP application.
