European Pig Producers Congress 2026 puts Poland and the Future of EU Pig Production in Focus

20 to 22 May in Poland – Fully booked with about 250 participants from 18 different countries are expected to attend – european-pig-producers/epp-congress-2026-poznan-poland

The European Pig Producers Congress will take place this year in Poland, bringing together pig farmers from across Europe to discuss key developments shaping the sector, with topics ranging from market outlooks and profitability to animal health and policy issues, including ministerial‑level perspectives. Taking place from 20 to 22 May, the congress is organized by EPP (European Pig Producers’ club), which represents around 600 pig farmers from across Europe, and DLG Markets Poland, the contact point for DLG activities in the Polish agricultural and food sector. The choice of Poland as host country is particularly apt, as Poland has also been named International Farmers’ Day country at EuroTier 2026, the leading trade fair livestock technology, later this November, underlining its growing relevance within European pig production.

Poland’s growing relevance in European pig production provides the thematic foundation of the congress. In recent years, the sector has undergone significant structural change, characterized by consolidation, modernization and increasing integration into EU and global markets. Under the guiding theme “Poland – Towards top of EU pig production!?”, the congress will examine what is driving this transformation and what it means for pig producers across Europe who are facing similar economic, regulatory and societal pressures.

“With Poland emerging as a key growth region, we organized the congress to offer a timely platform to assess how national developments will influence regional and European market dynamics, competitiveness and long‑term production structures, “ says Sven Häuser,  Manager of EPP.

Market outlook and profitability under pressure

Over three days, from 20 to 22 May, the program will combine strategic market analysis with practical farm‑level insights. Sessions will address structural changes in pig farming, the EU and global pork market outlook, and the future role of pork as a tasty, valuable and increasingly climate‑efficient protein source.

A central discussion will focus on the key determinants of profitability in pig production, examining whether success is primarily driven by farm management, market conditions or external factors. These sessions are designed to support producers navigating volatile cost structures, price fluctuations and increasing regulatory requirements.

Health, welfare and applied know‑how

Animal health and welfare remain core pillars of resilient pig production. Dedicated sessions will focus on suckling piglet rearing, gut health and practical welfare strategies, translating scientific knowledge and field experience into applicable solutions for everyday farm operations.

The emphasis is on strengthening herd resilience, optimizing nutrition and management, and adapting production systems to higher efficiency and welfare standards while maintaining economic viability.

The European Pig Producers Congress is closely linked to EuroTier, the world’s leading trade fair for professional animal husbandry and livestock technology, taking place from 10 to 13 November 2026 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany. While the congress provides space for strategic discussion and peer‑to‑peer exchange, EuroTier offers direct access to the technologies that enable these insights to be implemented in practice.

At EuroTier, pig producers can explore innovations in housing systems, feeding and genetics, animal health and biosecurity, digital herd management, automation, climate control and energy solutions, directly connecting congress discussions with investment and technology decisions.

About EPP

The EPP Congress is rooted in the European Pig Producers Club, managed by DLG, which comprises around 600 pig farmers from across Europe. As a trust‑based network, the congress places strong emphasis on open exchange, experience sharing and long‑term partnerships among producers.

Beyond its technical agenda, the congress continues to serve as an important economic and social forum for the European pig sector — bringing together farmers, advisers, researchers and industry partners to jointly shape the future of pig production in Europe.

Logo: EPP/DLG