NATIONAL SUPPORT CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURE

KOWR National Support Centre for Agriculture

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WHO ARE WE?The National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) is a Polish public finance sector insti-tution, supervised by the Minister of Agricul-ture and Rural Development and operating since 1 September 2017. It was established by merging two state agricultural agencies—the Agricultural Property Agency and the Ag-ricultural Market Agency.

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The KOWR’s fields of activities: ▪ improvement of the competitiveness of Polish

agri-food products at home and abroad, ▪ management of agricultural properties of the

State Treasury, ▪ development of the agricultural system, ▪ supervision of plant and livestock breeding

companies of particular interest to the national economy,

▪ stabilisation and monitoring of agricultural markets,

▪ activities related to renewable energy sources, ▪ food aid and programmes to promote con-

sumption and healthy eating, ▪ promotion of innovation in agriculture and in

the agri-food industry, ▪ support for rural development, ▪ transfer of knowledge in rural areas.

Beneficiaries/partners/stakeholders of the KOWR's activities are: ▪ agricultural producers and family farms, ▪ agri-food business operators pursuing their ac-

tivity in Poland, in the EU or in third countries, ▪ organisations bringing together the above-

mentioned entities (producer groups and or-ganisations as well as branch and interbranch organisations),

▪ local government units, ▪ rural residents (including residents of areas en-

compassing former state farms), ▪ public benefit organisations and other eco-

nomic entities operating or planning to initiate investment activities within the country,

▪ impoverished individuals (through charity or-ganisations),

▪ schools and students participating in the School Programme,

▪ consumers.

ORGANISATIONThe organisational structure of the KOWR covers the whole country and facilitates efficient bene-ficiary and customer service. The KOWR is com-prised of several distinct organisational units—the Central Office in Warsaw and 17 Regional Offices (ROs), one branch office and a network of affiliate offices.

INVESTMENT PROPERTIESThe KOWR has the largest offer of non-agricultur-al properties in Central and Eastern Europe. The offer includes investment areas attractive for eco-nomic activity which can be used for: investment projects, technology parks, business centres and housing estates. The potential of these properties has already been noticed by international compa-nies which have undertaken investment projects on that land.

BIOLOGICAL PROGRESS IN AGRICULTUREThe National Support Centre for Agriculture owns and supervises the activities of 41 plant and live-stock breeding companies whose role is to create and promote biological progress in Polish agriculture.

These include: 8 plant breeding companies, 19 livestock breeding companies and 14 horse and stud breeding companies.

Plant breeding companies concentrate the most valuable genetic material of vegetables, cereals, legumes, grass, sugar beet, fodder beet, potato and rapeseed as well as ornamental flowers and plants.

Livestock breeding companies produce breed-ing material based on breeding programmes to im-prove breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep and horses.

The KOWR owns and supervises inter alia, horse studs in Janów Podlaski and in Michałów famous around the world for breeding Arabian horses.

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fresh fruit and vegetables as well as milk and natural dairy products with no flavourings, such as kefir, yo-ghurt and curd. Children also participate in special educational activities according to the guidelines of the Ministry of National Education. Poland is one of the largest beneficiaries of the programme in the EU. In the 2018/2019 school year, the programme’s budget is more than EUR 56 million, including EUR 30 million from the national budget.

Food Aid Operational Programme 2014–2020The National Support Centre for Agriculture partic-ipates as an intermediate body and beneficiary in the implementation of the Food Aid Operational Programme 2014–2020, under which it carries out tasks related to the purchase and distribution of food among the most deprived persons and ac-companying measures offered to the recipients of food aid.

WE SUPPORT INNOVATION The National Support Centre for Agriculture pro-vides institutional facilities to support and imple-ment innovation in agriculture aimed at concen-trating the supply of domestic agri-food products and preventing food waste, as well as at improving the competitiveness and profitability of farms, in-tegrating producers and shortening the food chain.

In 2017, as part of an agreement between the KOWR and the National Research Institute of Ani-mal Production (NRIAP), a consortium named “Pol-ish Genetics Group” was established. Its objective is to intensify development work on genetic pro-gress in the national livestock population. In addi-tion, the Group’s work focuses on increasing the productivity and value of the breeding sector and on setting new directions of development in animal breeding. The results of the Group’s work are made available to agricultural producers.

STABILISATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETS The National Support Centre for Agriculture per-forms tasks related to stabilisation and support of agricultural markets. They include monitor-ing of the milk and tobacco markets, monitoring contracts for supplies of agricultural products, support for development and investment activ-ities in the field of innovation in the agri-food sector and mechanisms related to renewable en-ergy sources.

As part of its market support activities, the KOWR also implements tasks of the EU Com-mon Agricultural Policy (CAP), delegated from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, the EU paying agency in Poland. These are, inter alia, public intervention, aid for private storage of selected agri-food products, support for the bee products market, monitoring of production in the sugar and wine markets and foreign trade mechanisms.

SUPPORT FOR CONSUMPTION AND HEALTHY EATINGThe KOWR implements the EU School Programme, aimed at improving children’s eating habits. This programme focuses on children attending primary school grades, who several times a week receive

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MARKET ANALYSES AND TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGEThe National Support Centre for Agriculture pre-pares regular information and analyses on prices, supply-demand situation on the major agri-food markets, trade in agri-food commodities, agricul-tural policy regulations and the forecasts of the situation on primary agricultural markets. The presentation of papers provides a wide group of recipients with access to current market informa-tion. All papers are available on www.kowr.gov.pl under the “Analysis” tab.

PROMOTION OF POLISH FOODPoland is one of the leading producers of agricul-tural crops and food products in the European Un-ion and the world. Our food is high quality, safe, natural and delicious.

The value of farm production places Polish ag-riculture in seventh position in the EU. Polish food, produced with the use of natural raw materials and modern technologies, is appreciated by consumers for its excellent taste and affordable price.

The National Support Centre for Agriculture is the major entity in Poland implementing promo-tion policy instruments in the agri-food sector. One of the main tasks carried out by the KOWR is to support Polish producers exporting their food products.

A strong brand of Polish food products is being built under the slogan: “Poland tastes good”.

The KOWR implements a number of promo-tional and information measures carried out do-mestically and in foreign countries.

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DOMESTIC PROMOTIONThe main objective of domestic promotional and information measures carried out by the KOWR is to encourage consumers to buy Polish food and, consequently, to increase domestic food con-sumption and the competitiveness of domestic products.

The activities of the National Support Cen-tre for Agriculture are aimed at consumers seek-ing high-quality, traditional, regional and organic food, as well as those interested in healthy food products.

The KOWR encourages Polish producers to ob-tain national and EU food quality certificates and to promote their products at home and abroad.

Measures to promote the quality of Polish agri-food products are carried out during local and na-tional events.

The internet is one of the most important pro-motional channels. When looking for high-quality products and promotional events, consumers can use the www.polskasmakuje.pl website and a mo-bile app of the same name. Polish farmers, produc-ers and exporters of food can access information about marketing, quality systems, as well as lec-tures, training courses and discussion panels on the www.strefainspiracjikowr.pl website.

Reports on promotional events can also be found at Facebook/PolandTastesGoodPL.

The KOWR also supports nine industry pro-motion funds for agri-food products. The promo-tion funds finance or co-finance: information and promotional campaigns, scientific and market re-search and development work on improving the quality of products, as well as training and partici-pation of producers and processors in exhibitions and fairs.

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONPolish food products successfully compete on global markets. Since Poland joined the European Union in 2004, the export of agri-food products has been steadily growing. In 2017, it reached EUR 27.8 billion, which means a fivefold increase when compared to the year Poland joined the EU.

The KOWR is dedicated to supporting Polish operators in the agri-food sector in their efforts to enter foreign markets. It is also responsible for pro-moting Polish food abroad.

Our main activity conducted with a view to those purposes is to organise national stands at international fairs and exhibitions. The stands

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can be found both in countries where Polish food is already appreciated and in places where Polish products are still unknown.

The KOWR also carries out foreign trade mis-sions for Polish operators of the agri-food industry, usually alongside their presence at fairs, as well as specialised business-to-business meetings (B2B). In addition, the KOWR organises informational and training meetings for Polish operators in or-der to share knowledge on the business and trade customs of particular foreign markets.

Acting as an intermediary between Polish and foreign operators interested in mutual cooperation, the KOWR implements measures aimed at putting potential trading partners in touch with each other and establishing business contacts.

Information on the food promotion measures implemented by the KOWR abroad and reports on events can be found on the KOWR website www.kowr.gov.pl, in social media at: Facebook/PolandTastesGoodPL and on the website dedi-cated to the promotion of Polish food specialities www.food.trade.gov.pl.

International Green Week Berlin “Grüne Woche”(Germany – Berlin)

BIOFACH (Germany – Nuremberg)

Anuga(Germany – Cologne)

Expo ANTAD & Alimentaria México(Mexico – Guadalajara)

Gulfood (UAE – Dubai)

Speciality Food Festival(UAE – Dubai)

THAIFEX(Thailand – Bangkok)

Annapoorna Anufood India (India – Mumbai)

FOODEX JAPAN(Japan – Tokyo)

SIAL China(China – Shanghai)

ANUFOOD China(China – Beijing)

SIAL InterFOOD(Indonesia – Jakarta)

Israfood(Israel – Tel Aviv)

HKTDC Food Expo(Hong Kong – Hong Kong)

Zemĕ Živitelka(Czech Republic – Ceske Budejovice)

Seoul Food & Hotel(South Korea – Seoul)

Food & Hotel Vietnam(Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City)

KOWR’s promotional activities during international fairs and exhbitions in 2019

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SUPPORT FOR PROMOTIONAL AND INFORMATION MEASURES IN SELECTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS MARKETS UNDER THE EU Common Agricultural PolicyThe National Support Centre for Agriculture pro-vides support to branch and interbranch organisa-tions that implement promotional and information programmes aimed at shaping the image of EU products, improving the competitiveness and ac-quiring potential consumers. The programmes are accepted by the European Commission.

To date, 33 information and promotional cam-paigns have been implemented. These targeted third-country markets such as: China, South Korea, United States, Canada, Ukraine, Belarus, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as EU countries—Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Ro-mania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

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import

export

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018forecast

balance

fivefold increase in the value of export since the accession

to the EU

billi

on E

UR

4.0 5.27.1

8.510.1

11.7 11.513.5

15.2

17.9

20.421.9

23.9 24.3

27.829.0

3.64.4

5.46.4

8.110.3

9.310.9

12.613.6 14.3

15.116.1

17.3

19.3 19.6

Polish foreign trade in agricultural and food products

Source: KOWR's calculations based on the data from the Ministry of Finance, forecast for 2018 by IERiGŻ–PIB.

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These campaigns were dedicated to the pro-motion of beef, pork, poultry meat (including pro-cessed products), rapeseed oil, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, milk products, pasta, juices, organic products, and more, as well as promotion of the Community system for the protection of re-gional and traditional products.

The following programmes/campaigns are cur-rently being carried out: ▪ “Meat with European Quality”—a two-year

programme aimed at the markets of the United States and Canada, promoting pork, beef and derived products. The programme budget is EUR 2.4 million.

▪ “Time for Apples from Europe”—a two-year programme aimed at the markets of Egypt and Algeria, promoting Polish “Grójeckie apples” covered by the Protected Geographical Indi-cation and European apples. The programme budget is EUR 2.5 million.

▪ “European Pasta”—a three-year programme aimed at the markets of China and Ukraine, promoting pasta. The programme budget is EUR 3.1 million.

▪ “European Poultry—the Power of Quality”— a three-year programme aimed at the markets of China, Vietnam and the United Arab Emir-ates. The programme promotes high quali-ty poultry meat produced under the Quality Assurance for Food Products (QAFP) system. The programme budget is EUR 4.2 million.

Geographical structure of Polish agri-food export in 2017

24%Germany

82% EU

11%Other

countries

5% CIS

2% USA

EUR 22.8 billion

EUR 27.8 billion

10%Other EU countries

6%Netherlands 5% Czech Republic

5% France

3% Spain

3% Hungary

3% Belgium

2% Slovakia

2% Romania

2% Lithuania

2% Denmark

6% Italy

9% United

Kingdom

24%Germany

82% EU

11%Other

countries

5% CIS

2% USA

EUR 22.8 billion

EUR 27.8 billion

10%Other EU countries

6%Netherlands 5% Czech Republic

5% France

3% Spain

3% Hungary

3% Belgium

2% Slovakia

2% Romania

2% Lithuania

2% Denmark

6% Italy

9% United

Kingdom

PROMOTIONAL MEASURES UNDER THE RDP 2014–2020The National Agricultural Support Centre for Ag-riculture manages the measure “Quality systems for agricultural products and foodstuffs” under the Rural Development Programme for 2014—2020. The measure includes support related to joining a national or EU quality system and support for in-formation and promotional activities dedicated to high-quality products.

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MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

The Polish dairy industry is equipped with a world-class technology park. Cheeses and curds are the most important export commodity. Poland is the number six producer of cheeses and curds in the world and fifth in the EU.

POLISH EXPORT HITS

MEAT–POULTRY, BEEF, PORK

Poland has a rich tradition in the production of poul-try, beef and pork. Since 2014, Poland has been the largest producer of poultry meat in the EU. Polish meat is appreciated around the world due to its high quality and excellent culinary properties. In order to guarantee the highest quality of products, a sig-nificant part of production is carried out under the national quality systems such as: the Pork Quality System (PQS), Quality Assurance for Food Products (QAFP) and Quality Meat Program (QMP).

Poland is also well-known for the production of its traditional cold meats—sausages and kabanos sausages, ham, pork chops, bacon and pâtés.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Poland is the global leader in the production of ap-ples, which are one of the most popular export com-modities from Poland. Poland is also a European and global leader in the production of soft fruit such as raspberries, currants, strawberries or blueberries, as well as champignons, brassica vegetables, onions, carrots and potatoes. The Polish horticultural and vegetable production is a base for the domestic pro-cessing industry. Some of its most important prod-ucts include concentrated apple juice and high-qual-ity fruit and vegetable juices. Poland is also a leading European producer of frozen fruit and vegetables.

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CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS AND CONFECTIONERY

Poland is a European leader in the production of chocolate products. Confectionery produced in Poland delights consumers with a wide range of types and flavours. Polish confectionery products are present in more than 130 countries worldwide, from Russia to Australia.

HONEY AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS.

Poland is the fifth-largest producer of honey in the European Union. Honey originating in Poland comes in a range of varieties with distinct tastes and health qualities. Owing to its unique proper-ties, Polish honey is becoming more and more pop-ular on foreign markets.

The natural production methods used by Pol-ish family farms also provide high-quality organ-ic products. At the end of 2017, 21.4 thousand producers of organic products were registered in Poland and the total area of organic farmland was nearly 0.5 million ha.

GRAIN MILL PRODUCTS

In addition to traditional products, the Polish bak-ing industry offers bread with extended shelf life, toast bread and crispbread, hamburger and hot-dog buns, as well as special semi-finished products for home baking, deep-frozen bread for the food service sector, and more. Polish pastas are also sought all over the world.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PARTNERS

National Support Centre for AgricultureExport Support Department

ul. Karolkowa 30, 01-207 Warsaw, Poland

Phone: + 48 22 376 72 26

Fax: +48 22 376 71 42

e-mail: eksporter@kowr.gov.pl

KOWR National Support Centre for Agriculture

National Support Centre for Agricultureul. Karolkowa 30, 01-207 Warsaw www.kowr.gov.pl© KOWR November 2018ISBN 978-83-64002-93-9