Degree of Concentration of Pig Production in the Context of Trading on the Food Platform

Abstract

In Poland, a characteristic feature of live pig production is its dispersion. The purpose of the article is to present the current level of concentration of pig producers and pig population, as well as structural changes that have taken place after Poland’s accession to the European Union. The reference point for the degree of concentration in Poland is the degree of concentration of producers and livestock numbers in countries such as Denmark or Germany. These countries were included in the production and export of pigs and pig meat due to their position. The analysis confirms that despite the progress in concentration, both the structure of producers and the population are still fragmented. In 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development took the initiative to create an electronic sales platform under the name “Food Platform”. One of the goals of its establishment is to strengthen the position of farmers, who are the weakest link in the supply chain. The point is that trading on the Food Platform would bring benefits not only to large companies, but also to small entities that face difficulties to operating independently on the market. One of the products recommended for trade on the Food Platform is red meat (pork and beef) and products from this meat (Szczepaniak, Ambroziak and Drożdż, 2019). Although trade in pork half-carcases is foreseen further (wheat is to be the pilot product) and in addition will be based on transactions between slaughterhouses and processing plants, the fragmentation of production in question will have an impact on this turnover. The turnover on the platform, in turn, may affect the position of farmers. The trade may require joint (group) action of producers, and perhaps also the proper organization of the trade on the part of the platform.