A new expert group and a new department will be created in the Ministry of Agriculture. As announced by Czesław Siekierski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, it will be dedicated to processing and trade. According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, too little attention is currently paid to the food industry and its problems. The group of experts is to include presidents and representatives of companies such as Mlekovita, Bakalland, Dawtona and Colian.
“The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MRiRW) announced the establishment of a group of experts during Monday's meeting with representatives of the food industry. He also announced that in order to comprehensively deal with the issues of the agri-food industry, he wants to establish a department of processing and trade in the Ministry of Agriculture in September,” the ministry said in a statement.
– We do not deal enough with the food industry and its problems. There is a problem with conducting scientific research in this area. Research centers are focused on analyzing agricultural markets, marginalizing the problems of this industry – said Minister Siekierski.
According to the ministry’s announcement, the following people expressed their readiness to participate in the expert group: Marek Marzec from the Scientific and Technical Association of the Food Industry, Andrzej Gartner from the Polish Federation of Food Producers, Witold Boguta from the National Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Groups, Dariusz Sapiński – president of the Mlekovita cooperative, Paweł Wielgomas – president of the Dawtona company, Marian Owerko – president of Bakalland and Mariusz Jaroszewski from the Colian company.
Food industry think tank at the ministry
The information indicated that the group of experts is to work in the form of a think tank. The purpose of its activities will be to research and search for ways to solve the problems of the agri-food industry, as well as to develop proposals for solutions and present them to the Minister of Agriculture.
The expert group meetings are to be held periodically, every two months. It was noted that if there is a need to familiarize oneself with the situation directly, meetings in the field are also possible.
– I want the group to work on specifics, what can be done in a given situation. The opinions of people who have achieved success in this industry are important to me – indicated Siekierski quoted in the information. He added that he also plans to invite specialists from various fields to work, depending on the needs.
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