The two-day European Agricultural Forum took place at the G2A Arena in Jasionka in Podkarpackie, Poland on 1-2 March. Alongside ECR Group Member and Marshal of Podkarpackie region Władysław Ortyl, those participating in the Forum included the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski and the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan.

The European Agriculture Forum, a two day event organised the European Fund for the Development of Polish Villages, is an annual event bringing together EU, national and local and regional politicians. The Forum is a new, extended form of agricultural conference which began in 2011. This year’s forum was organised in partnership with the Podkarpackie region. Participants in the forum included the ECR Member Włdysłw Ortyl, who is the Marshal (President) of the Podkarpackie region as well as the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland and the EU Commissioner responsible for agriculture. Representatives of ministries in Slovakia, Hungary, Spain and the Czech Republic also came to Jasionka as did parliamentarians, representatives of agricultural institutions, politicians, researchers from Poland and abroad, and the clergy, represented by Archbishop Andrzej Dzięa. In total, around two thousand people attended the event.

Marshal Włdysłw Ortyl spoke about the advantages of Podkarpackie and its agriculture as well as the EU aid enjoyed by farmers:

 “The Common Agricultural Policy is a very important topic for us as the Rural Development Programme is fundamental to Podkarpackie villages and the living conditions of the population. Improvement is taking place thanks to EU funds which allow for investment in infrastructure and in agricultural holdings”, Marshal Ortyl emphasised.

He also spoke about the agricultural fragmentation of the region which, contrary to expectations, could be an asset as it favours the development of ecological agriculture. He also pointed out that Podkarpackie is a leader in land consolidation and in the number of traditional products registered on the ministry’s list, which is already 230.

“This is our brand, our showpiece”, Marshal Ortyl said and he also read a letter from the Head of the Law & Justice (PiS) party Mr Jarosłw Kaczyńki.

The President of Poland Andrzej Duda and the Marshal of the Polish Sejm Marek Kuchcińki also sent letters to the participants of the forum.

Phil Hogan, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, who led the attendees in a debate on the EU Common Agricultural Policy, was also a prominent voice in the forum. The Commissioner said that it was one of  the oldest and most successful EU instruments. He devoted a lot of attention to the issue of Brexit, which would mean less budgetary revenue for the European Union. But he stressed that he believed that a solution that is good for everyone could be found:

“We want solutions that will be good for all parties. We must remember that we are stronger when we work together, when we are together, when we don’ stand alone”, the Commissioner explained.

Phil Hogan also talked about the new perspective and what the EU will place emphasis on in agriculture, which will be innovation and research.

According to Hogan, “We want this money to benefit farmers, particularly small and medium-sized farms.”

Further debates took place on the second day of the forum. Participants discussed opportunities and threats to Polish agriculture, at the same time they highlighted that agricultural policy in Poland was heading in the right direction thanks to measures taken in favour of agri-food production. In the discussions, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out that Polish food has an excellent reputation abroad, which is why it is an important and valued export product. However, it is important to ensure the high quality of exported products, because it is high quality products that build the Polish brand around the world.