Only one week separates us from the largest dairy industry event in Central and Eastern Europe – the 21st International Dairy Cooperative Forum. Thanks to the international presence of industry leaders, the Forum becomes a place for exchanging experiences on a global scale. Participation in this event also opens the door to establishing new business relationships, strengthening existing cooperation and gaining valuable industry knowledge.
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In September, another edition of the International Dairy Community Forum
On the one hand, competition, on the other, cooperation and new sales markets.
One of the topics discussed during the 21st edition of the event will be the Ukrainian dairy sector in the context of joining the European Union and the question of whether Ukraine is an opportunity or a threat to the Polish sector. On the one hand, Ukraine has a huge agricultural potential, including dairy, which can be a competition for Polish producers, on the other hand, cooperation with Ukraine can bring benefits in the form of new sales markets, as well as the exchange of knowledge and technology. The prospect of Ukraine joining the European Union brings with it both huge opportunities and numerous challenges for its dairy sector.
– The Polish dairy sector is currently a beneficiary of trade between Ukraine and Poland. The loss of the Ukrainian market will cause us serious problems in terms of the industry. The Ukrainian dairy sector in the context of joining the European Union, cooperation with Ukraine, the situation on the milk market in Poland, Europe and the world, and many other issues will be discussed during the conference, which will be held on September 4-5 in Białystok. – said Agnieszka Maliszewska, organizer of the International Forum of Dairy Cooperatives.
It is worth mentioning that before the full-scale invasion by Russia, the Ukrainian dairy industry had to deal with, among other things, a decline in the number of cattle. In January 2022, the total number of dairy cows decreased by 6.6% compared to the previous year, with 1.56 million cattle recorded. Large industrial farms had about 422,100 cows, while family farms had 1.14 million cows. Despite these challenges, technological progress has gradually improved the productivity and efficiency of the sector.
Trade liberalization with the European Union has brought Ukraine new export opportunities, especially to EU markets. Currently, more than 50 percent of Ukrainian dairy exports go to this direction. The future of the sector depends on modernization, adoption of advanced technologies and further integration with the European market. International support, including investment and financial assistance, will also be crucial, which will help the Ukrainian dairy industry rebuild and develop after the end of the conflict.
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What problems is the dairy sector facing?
Will Ukraine be an opportunity or a threat to the Polish dairy sector?
Whether Ukraine will be an opportunity or a threat to the Polish dairy sector depends on many factors, such as:
- trade agreements : trade conditions between Poland and Ukraine will be crucial for the development of both sectors;
- support for producers : the availability of financial resources and support programmes for Polish milk producers will have a significant impact on their competitiveness;
- production specialization : focusing on the production of high-quality niche products can help Polish producers differentiate themselves from the competition;
- international cooperation : active cooperation with other EU countries can help shape agricultural policies that are favourable to Polish producers.
In conclusion, Ukraine can be both an opportunity and a threat to the Polish dairy sector. The key to success is to actively manage these relationships and adapt to changing market conditions. Given the importance of this issue, it will be widely discussed during the 21st International Dairy Community Forum.
