Around 200 farms grow potatoes for Farm Frites Poland. Alicja Mazurkiewicz, Head of Raw Material Management, explains what this cooperation looks like in practice—and why the company has long been actively involved in what happens in the field well before harvest begins.
What does Farm Frites Poland do?
We’ve been operating since 1994, with a strong focus on building long-term, partnership-based relationships with potato growers—our suppliers. We see our role as going beyond that of a buyer and processor of raw material; we also act as an advisor and a long-term partner.
That’s why our team of agronomists supports farmers at every stage of the growing season: from planting and crop growth, through harvest, to storage. We provide advice on fertilization, crop protection, variety selection, and agronomic planning, as well as support with seed sourcing and certification processes. We work both with our own farm, Farm Frites Poland Dwa, which is the company’s second farm in Poland, and with a network of around 200 external suppliers—combining practical farming expertise with over 30 years of processing experience.
From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing the market?
Key challenges include climate change and increasing weather variability affecting yields, tightening environmental regulations, rising production and storage costs, and increasingly demanding customer quality requirements. We also see growing competition in the frozen potato products sector.
That’s why we are constantly looking for solutions that allow us to maintain high-quality potatoes and fries while staying competitive. These challenges have led us to adopt a more systemic approach to working with our suppliers—and to develop a program that addresses these issues not just in the short term, but over the long term.
What is your program about?
The “Regenerative Agriculture with Farm Frites Poland” program includes 11 best practices across soil, water, climate, and biodiversity. We’ve developed training materials to help suppliers implement these practices. The program was launched at a dedicated conference on March 6, 2026, and will continue to evolve in future phases. Its development is supported by external experts, including Dr. Bartłomiej Glina from the Poznań University of Life Sciences, a specialist in soil science.
We know that the best results come from precision agriculture tools that enable optimized nutrient management, soil monitoring, and efficient water use. That’s why, on selected fields, we use weather stations that measure rainfall, air and soil temperature, and wind speed—helping farmers make better‑informed decisions on irrigation and crop protection. Soil testing, reduced tillage, cover cropping, and responsible water management are also key. Our goal is for regenerative practices not only to limit environmental degradation but to actively restore soil health and enhance biodiversity.
Program participants receive agronomic support based on regular field visits and tailored recommendations—something we’ve been doing for over 30 years.
Farmers take part in training sessions, field days, and peer‑to‑peer knowledge sharing. We test new varieties and technologies on our own farm and then roll out proven solutions to our suppliers. We also actively support them in obtaining GLOBALG.A.P. and FSA (Farm Sustainability Assessment) certifications, which assess and benchmark farm sustainability. Our own farm serves as a model within the European McDonald’s Flagship Farmers program and as a testing ground for new technologies.
The foundation of this cooperation is transparent communication, regular contact, and a strong field presence. Together with our farmers, we pursue a shared goal: stable production of safe, high‑quality raw material while continuously raising production standards. It’s a partnership that delivers value for both sides—and that’s why it lasts.
What are your plans going forward?
We plan to further develop our regenerative agriculture program, invest in modern production technologies, and roll out initiatives to improve resource efficiency and strengthen the long‑term resilience of the agricultural sector.
Through the program, we are currently working with farmers on soil management, water retention, and biodiversity protection—emphasizing that healthy soil is the foundation of stable, high yields. We encourage regular soil testing and the adoption of practices that increase farm resilience to climate change. Our partners support us in this effort, including Wasat, which provides farmers with precise fertilization maps and recommendations; Agrotechnology, which supports soil testing; and Procam, a long‑standing member of the Association.
Thank you for the interview!
Thank you for the interview!