A Comprehensive Initiative to Enhance Sustainability and Resilience for Polish Potato Farmers
McCain has announced a pioneering partnership with BNP Paribas Bank Polska to introduce a regenerative agriculture program designed to support Polish potato farmers in their sustainability efforts. This initiative aims to address the challenges posed by climate change, fluctuating weather patterns, rising input costs, and regulatory uncertainties, offering a comprehensive support package encompassing technical, commercial, and financial assistance.
According to a recent press release, McCain is committed to transforming potato cultivation through regenerative agriculture practices. This ecosystem-based approach focuses on improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs, thereby boosting farmer resilience, yields, and potato quality. The program aligns with McCain’s global objective to adopt regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of its potato acreage by 2030.
Leslie Camus, Vice President Agriculture at McCain Europe, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “With potato yields decreasing across Europe and more extreme climate events, regenerative agriculture is not a passing trend; it is essential for our entire supply chain’s resilience. McCain is dedicated to creating a robust de-risking package to engage our grower partners in this transition, securing our long-term supply while decarbonizing and preserving ecosystems, biodiversity, and soil health.”
BNP Paribas Bank Polska, a leader in green transformation in Poland, has pledged significant support for this project. At the end of Q3 2023, the bank’s sustainable financing reached PLN8.9bn, or 9.8% of its total loan portfolio. The bank has a proven track record of facilitating green transformations across various industries, including a major transaction for Polsat Plus Group worth over PLN10bn.
Szymon Bielawa, Director and Head of North America Corporates Coverage at BNP Paribas Bank Polska, stated, “We are proud to partner with McCain, a global leader in the sustainable transition of the food value chain. Our cooperation will leverage our global presence and expertise, providing unique solutions to support our clients worldwide and help them achieve their sustainability goals.”
The new McCain regenerative agriculture program is built on three pillars: technical support, commercial support, and financial support. Together with independent agricultural expert Jerzy Prochnicki, Ph.D., McCain will guide the initial group of farmers in enhancing soil life, organic matter management, cover crop management, crop diversification, and biodiversity. BNP Paribas Bank Polska will co-sponsor the technical training and support over the next three years.
Jerzy Prochnicki explained, “Regenerative agronomic practices are vital for restoring soil fertility and producing high-quality food cost-effectively, especially for demanding crops like potatoes. These practices also enable the sequestration of excess atmospheric carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.”
In addition to technical training, McCain will offer a voluntary three-year contract to farmers who commit to the regenerative agriculture journey. This contract includes a premium payment per ton of potatoes grown under regenerative practices, further incentivizing sustainable farming.
Roman Majchrzycki, McCain’s Agriculture Manager in Poland, expressed pride in expanding the program: “After successfully launching our regenerative agriculture programs in France and the Netherlands, we are thrilled to bring this initiative to Poland. This program will enhance supply sustainability and strengthen our collaboration with local farmers.”
The partnership with BNP Paribas Bank Polska will also provide financial support measures, including discounted interest loans, to assist farmers in transitioning to regenerative practices. This three-year agreement represents a significant milestone in McCain’s regenerative agriculture efforts and coincides with the company’s 25th anniversary of manufacturing excellence at its Strzelin facility, marking a promising future for McCain in Poland.
