During the XXXIII Economic Forum in Karpacz, we took part in the panel discussion “Between decarbonization and competitiveness”. The Association for Sustainable Agriculture & Food in Poland was represented by Małgorzata Bojańczyk, director of the Association.
The panel featured the participation of:
- Małgorzata Bojańczyk, Director of the Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Food in Poland
- Miłosz Motyka, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment
- Adam Nowak, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Igor Hebrajski, Supply Chain Director at McDonald’s Poland
- Adam Rytel, Green Factory.
The discussion was moderated by Robert Tomaszewski from Polityka Insight.
During the panel, we discussed the necessary actions to achieve the decarbonization of agriculture in Poland and the European Union. As panelists unanimously emphasized, the decarbonization of agriculture is not only possible but also necessary to meet the European climate goals by 2050. Key elements of this transformation are regenerative practices, green energy, water crisis management, technological innovations, and digitization, which can significantly contribute to increasing the competitiveness of farmers in Poland and the EU.
Source: McDonald’s Poland.
The European Commission clearly points to the need to reduce emissions within their own supply chains, rather than relying on offsets in other sectors. The reason for this position is to encourage businesses to take real action to reduce emissions. Achieving this goal requires business cooperation with farmers based on a partnership approach.
– emphasized Małgorzata Bojańczyk during the discussion.
We also discussed the opportunities that decarbonization presents for farmers. The introduction of sustainable solutions, such as appropriate soil cultivation methods, can not only contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also provide farms with the opportunity to create a new business model and generate revenue. This is particularly important because by implementing regenerative practices, farmers become more attractive partners for businesses in the context of reporting ESG metrics and reducing emissions across the entire supply chain. A good example of the effects of cooperation between farmers and the agro-food sector is the actions of McDonald’s Poland, presented in the company’s latest ESG Report. The report is available on this site.
During the discussion, we also covered the necessary actions the Polish government should take to support the decarbonization of agriculture without lowering the competitiveness of Polish agriculture. Recommended actions included systemic incentives for farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, investments in infrastructure and technology, support for the energy transition, and the introduction of appropriate legal regulations, including social dialogue and business input.