Piotr Szajner

Concentration within the food industry is a desirable process in the context of improving economic efficiency, which is the basis for building sustainable competitive advantages in internationalisation and globalisation. Excessive concentration of market structures can generate negative externalities that threaten sustainability in the long term. Maintaining a balance between the freedom of economic activities and the protection of consumers and environmental interests is fundamental to the stability of the entire economy and its position in the international market, which is a priority of the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement. The aim of this article was to assess the process of concentration of the Polish food industry and its impact on factor efficiency in the context of changing external conditions. In order to do so, the Cobb–Douglas production function was used. The research results showed that there is a progressive concentration in the food industry. Changes in the entity structure are taking place in an evolutionary way, as illustrated by the still high fragmentation of companies. Large companies make good use of economies of scale, which is mirrored in their high efficiency. The structure of the Polish food industry makes it possible to realise the objectives of agricultural policy, including in terms of sustainable development and improvement of competitiveness on the global market. Taking into account the current entity structure of the Polish food industry, it will be crucial for the long-term sustainability to take into account contemporary economic, environmental and social issues in the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement.

Food self-sufficiency is one of the factors determining the food security of individual countries. The purpose of the research was to assess food self-sufficiency in basic plant and animal products of Ukraine in comparison with the European Union. To assess food self-sufficiency, the SSRi index was used, i.e. the ratio of the volume of production of the most important products of plant and animal origin to the volume of their domestic consumption. USDA, FAOSTAT and CSO data were used in the study. The study covered the years 2019-2023. A comparative analysis of the self-sufficiency in basic plant and animal products of the Ukrainian and EU agri-food sectors showed significant differences. Ukraine has high self-sufficiency in cereals and oilseeds, while the EU has only small surpluses of cereals and is a net importer of oilseeds. The self-sufficiency of Ukraine’s sugar and vegetable industries is comparable to that of the EU. On the fruit market, by contrast, Ukraine and the EU are not self-sufficient. Ukraine’s self-sufficiency on the animal products market is much lower than on the vegetable products market. Ukraine is primarily self-sufficient in poultry, but not in pork and dairy products. The EU is self-sufficient in most animal products. Taking into account the production potential and food self-sufficiency of Ukraine, it should be expected that the future accession of Ukraine to the EU will strengthen the position of the EU in the world market of agricultural raw materials and improve its food security and resilience to crisis phenomena. However, it may pose a threat to many sectors of the EU agri-food sector and force adjustment processes on them.

Rapidly changing external conditions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which are pure crisis phenomena, not only determine the geopolitical and geoeconomic situation in the global markets but also cause structural changes in individual countries. Under these conditions, the level of food self-sufficiency becomes particularly important, as it is one of the factors determining the food security of any country. The aim of this research is to assess Ukraine’s food self-sufficiency compared to the European Union and Poland. The self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) index was used to assess food self-sufficiency. This is the ratio of the volume of production of the most important products of plant and animal origin to the volume of domestic consumption. Domestic consumption was defined as the volume of domestic production plus the volume of imports minus the volume of exports, and it also included changes in domestic stock levels. The surveyed time frame is 2019–2021. The analyzed data were taken from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, FAOSTAT, USDA, and Statistics Poland. A comparative analysis of self-sufficiency for the main agri-food sectors of Ukraine, the EU, and Poland showed significant differences. Taking into account the production potential and food self-sufficiency indicators of Ukraine, Ukraine’s possible accession to the EU can be expected to have a major impact on the EU’s supply and demand situation, as it may pose a threat to many EU agri-food sectors.

Such rapidly changing external conditions as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, being pure crisis phenomena, not only determine the geopolitical and geoeconomic situation on the global markets, but also cause structural changes in individual countries. Under these conditions, the level of food self-sufficiency becomes particularly important, as it is one of the factors determining the food security of any country. The aim of the research is to assess Ukraine's food self-sufficiency compared to the European Union and Poland. The self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) index was used to assess food self-sufficiency. This is the ratio of the volume of production of the most important products of plant and animal origin to the volume of domestic consumption. Domestic consumption was defined as the volume of domestic production increased by the volume of imports, reduced by the volume of exports and also included changes in domestic stock levels. The surveyed time frame is 2019–2021. The analyzed data were taken from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, FAOSTAT, USDA and Statistics Poland. A comparative analysis of self-sufficiency for the main agri-food sectors of Ukraine, the EU, and Poland showed significant differences. Taking into account the production potential and food self-sufficiency indicators of Ukraine, Ukraine's possible accession to the EU can be expected to have a major impact on the EU's supply and demand situation, as it may pose a threat to many EU agri-food sectors.

Agriculture in Poland plays an important social and environmental role. Accession to the EU resulted in structural and modernization changes, following adjustments to CAP obligations. In 2019, the European Green Deal and “From Farm to Fork” strategies called for circularity, zero emissions, and food and energy security. The purpose of this study was to assess the consumption and energy efficiency of Polish farms, identify challenges in energy management, and formulate recommendations. This study used data from Polish Statistics, FADN, and other public bodies collecting relevant data. The assessment of energy intensity was carried out based on the concept of technical efficiency by Farell and Debreu, defined as the ratio of effects to inputs. In addition, methods of comparative and descriptive statistics were used. The average annual dynamics of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions were determined using the compound percentage formula. The results of this research indicate positive changes in the energy management in Polish agriculture, including a decrease in production energy intensity, CO₂ emissions, and the amount of waste generated by the investments made. It is necessary to improve farm energy efficiency further and to increase the use of renewable energy to maintain cost competitiveness and meet environmental requirements.

Since sugar is the basic sweetener in food production and households, the sugar industry is considered a strategic one within the Polish agri-food sector. The sugar industry is a classic example of oligopoly, with four holdings producing a homogeneous product, which is chemically pure sucrose. Oligopoly is a form of imperfect market competition, with a theoretical background extensively described in literature. Structural and ownership transformation of the sugar industry began in 1994 on the basis of statutory regulations. Foreign direct investments of transnational holdings have substantially influenced the structure of the industry, as their market share reached approx. 60%. The market regulation system in the EU determined the conditions of competition and the economic strategy of sugar companies. The production capacity of the industry significantly exceeds the demand of the domestic market and therefore exports account for a large share of domestic output (ca. 30% of revenue on sales). In consequence the domestic market is strongly linked with the EU and world markets. Since the sugar industry is able to generate financial surpluses and promising economic indicators on a regular basis the transformation of the sugar industry can be considered successfully concluded. Over the period of 2009–2022, net profit varied between PLN 0.2 and 1.7 billion, with variability reflecting changes in the world market fundamentals and to a much lesser extent internal market conditions, namely changes in production level and stable demand. Branża cukrownicza jest strategicznym działem polskiego sektora rolno-żywnościowego, gdyż cukier to podstawowy środek słodzący wykorzystywany w przemysłowej produkcji żywności i używany w gospodarstwach domowych. Przemysł cukrowniczy jest klasycznym oligopolem, ponieważ cztery koncerny wytwarzają homogeniczny produkt, którym jest chemicznie czysta sacharoza. Oligopol stanowi formę niedoskonałej konkurencji rynkowej, której teoretyczne podstawy zostały gruntownie opisane w literaturze mikroekonomicznej. Przekształcenia strukturalne i własnościowe w przemyśle cukrowniczym rozpoczęły się w 1994 r. na podstawie ustawowych regulacji. Bezpośrednie inwestycje zagraniczne transnarodowych koncernów wpłynęły na strukturę branży, a ich udział w krajowym rynku wzrósł do ok. 60%. System regulacji rynku w UE determinował warunki konkurencji i strategię gospodarczą koncernów cukrowniczych. Potencjał produkcyjny branży przewyższa zapotrzebowanie rynku wewnętrznego, gdyż udział eksportu w przychodach zwiększył się z 10 do ok. 30%. W konsekwencji krajowy rynek jest silnie zintegrowany z rynkami unijnym i światowym. Procesy przemian własnościowych, strukturalnych i modernizacyjnych zakończyły się sukcesem, przemysł cukrowniczy uzyskał bowiem trwałą zdolność generowania nadwyżek finansowych i zadowalających wskaźników ekonomicznych. W latach 2009–2022 zysk netto wahał się tu w granicach 0,2–1,7 mld zł rocznie, a o jego dużej zmienności decydowała przede wszystkim sytuacja podażowo-popytowa na rynku światowym. Zdecydowanie mniejszy wpływ na rynek wywierały czynniki krajowe, tj. poziom produkcji i stabilny popyt.

The aim of the article is to assess the impact of changes in excise duty rates on prices, consumption, and tax revenue to the state budget on the development of the domestic tobacco industry. The study was conducted, among other things, using methods of statistical comparative analysis, dynamics...

The Common Agricultural Policy defines the framework directions for the structural changes of the agri-food sector until 2030. The main reason for the actions is a fundamental change in the European Union’s approach to environmental protection issues and the dynamically changing conditions on the market for energy and agricultural raw materials. The European Green Deal, the key element of which is the “Farm to Fork” strategy, is the expression of the announced changes. The assumption of the documents is the long-term restructuring and modernization of the EU economy, which will be characterized, among others, by a closed cycle, low greenhouse gas emissions, and food and energy security. The challenges and the current situation in the markets of energy carriers are of significance in the activities of the food industry, which shows a high demand for energy. The aim of the article is to assess the level of consumption and energy efficiency of food industry enterprises in Poland, to identify challenges related to energy management and to formulate conclusions and recommendations in the field of changes adapting to the new conditions. The research results indicate that many positive changes took place in the energy economy of Polish food industry enterprises, among others, as a result of the implemented investments, the energy consumption of production, CO₂ emissions and the amount of generated waste decreased. Due to unfavorable external conditions, it is necessary, however, to further improve the energy efficiency of enterprises, so that they can maintain cost competitiveness and meet the growing requirements in the field of environmental protection.

Produkcja artykułów żywnościowych w Polsce wykazuje wysoką dynamikę rozwoju. Bazę surowcową dla niej stanowią przede wszystkim produkty pochodzące z krajowego rolnictwa. Postępujące procesy internacjonalizacji polskiej gospodarki żywnościowej powodują, że stopniowo zwiększa się znaczenie surowców rolnych pochodzących z importu. Od początku członkostwa Polski w Unii Europejskiej udział produktów importowanych w łącznych zasobach surowcowych sektora żywnościowego wzrósł, w zależności od zastosowanej metody obliczeń, do ok. 33-39%. produkty te stanowią głównie surowce sprowadzane z innych stref klimatycznych. Poszczególne branże krajowego przemysłu spożywczego stosują zróżnicowane strategie w zakresie zaopatrzenia surowcowego, co wynika z różnych uwarunkowań ich funkcjonowania, w tym także odmiennej struktury własnościowej.

The aim of the article is to contribute to the discussion and research devoted to the evolution of the agri-food sector in the period of systemic transformation, Poland’s membership in the European Union, and globalization of the world economy. The evolution of the Polish agri-food sector,...