Polish food has already become an export brand. Owing to an intensive campaign devoted to looking for new target markets and getting access to them I can see lots of interest in Polish food everywhere around and I dare say it is the best around the world.
We hope export of agriculture and food products this year will beat last year’s score, and we wish to increase export share of this segment’s from the current 13% to 15%, thus beating the chemical industry and entering the second position in the ranking. Last year, despite the difficult situation resulting from the Russian embargo, the export surplus of agriculture and food products reached EUR 6.6 billion. In the first quarter of this year the surplus already totaled EUR 1.7 billion, which equals 20% increase. The data shows a great potential of the agriculture and food industry. It is worth remembering that 11 years ago Poland used to be a net importer, whereas it is now a notable food exporter. We boosted food production by 40%, and at present 30% of the food we produce is exported to 70 countries worldwide.
The reasons why we achieve such good results can be found here, at the Polagra fair in Poznań. It is one of Europe’s greatest specialist fair event devoted to food where hundreds of domestic and foreign exhibitors present their products. It is a great opportunity to compare and find out about new trends, new aspects in terms of techniques and technology. Polagra also offers lots of seminars, lectures and shows. It is undoubtedly a good venue for talks concerning the future of European and global farming, processing and challenges connected with providing the growing number of people with food.
Another issue we should pay attention to is wasting food. It is estimated that the lack of food processing industry, lack of storage and cooling systems in third world countries leads to about 50% of food being wasted before reaching consumers’ tables. As far as rich countries are concerned, on the other hand, owing to over-shopping trends as much as 30% of food is thrown away and hits trash bins. As far as worldwide famine issues are concerned, these two aspects show which actions we should undertake to improve the conditions of billions of people worldwide who are suffering from hunger.
It is worth to discuss these issues and look for the best possible solutions. The number of people around the world will keep growing. On one hand, far greater production and higher food supplies will be needed. On the other hand, the growing number of people and developing industrialization processes result in less and less soil which is available for farming.
As usual, there are lots of issues to be discussed, and it is today already that we must think what is to come in 10, 20 or 50 years’ time.