Polish Grain Day 2022
The first edition of Polish Grain Day took place on June 2, 2022 The event on current challenges for the agri-food industry was attended by entrepreneurs, representatives of public administration and experts from Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, a total of nearly 350 people.
President of the Grain and Feed Chamber Monika Piatkowska, opening the event, underlined that “Russian aggression against Ukraine has dramatically changed the sense of security in every dimension – from the military, to the economic, to the food dimension.” Piatkowska noted that “the current situation puts our country in a historic role to fulfill.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk was a special guest at the event. In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister assured of a joint effort by the government, the grain and fodder industry, and the European Commission to help Ukraine.
“We are discussing today how to help Ukraine, how to help grain exports through Poland. We are counting, as the Polish government, on the guidance and recommendations of the grain and feed industry,” – Deputy Prime Minister Kowalczyk stated. Informing about the dramatic situation in Ukraine’s agricultural areas, he added that “we are living in completely different conditions, circumstances than we have been used to for years. We were living with a sense of stability, free market, freedom of movement of goods, but everything changed on February 24.”
On behalf of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, representatives of the Polish government and representatives of the grain and fodder industry were directly addressed by Ambassador’s Counselor Igor Baranetsky. “In this difficult situation you can see who is a true friend and partner of Ukraine. Hard decisions are needed, and here I direct my thanks to Poland,” Ambassador Counselor Andriy Deshchitsa stressed.
In the next part of the event, participants listened to a lecture by analyst Miroslaw Marciniak on the world grain balance and production forecast in Europe, as well as two panel discussions “World and domestic grain market in the coming season. Is the world facing hunger?” and ”Ukraine.” Marciniak estimated the handling capacity at Polish ports at 600-700 thousand tons.
Guests of Polish Grain Day also took part in the trade fair part and the Gala Dinner, during which a charity auction was held, with all proceeds going to help refugees from Ukraine.
Main partners of the first edition of the event were the companies: Vittera, Louis Dreyfus Company Poland and the Polish Power Exchange. Strategic partners: the company Cargill Poland, Thegra Poland, FOSS Poland and USSEC. Partners: the DAKU company, BST Brokers, the National Center for Agricultural Support, the Bunge company and the Polish Chamber of Regional and Local Product.
The first edition of Polish Grain Day was covered under the media patronage of Farmer.pl, Farmer’s World and Portal Spożywczy portals.