Innovative Program Aims to Transform Potato Farming Practices for Sustainable Future
McCain has announced a groundbreaking partnership with BNP Paribas Bank Polska to develop a new regenerative agriculture program in Poland, designed to support potato growers in their transition to more sustainable farming practices. This initiative includes a comprehensive transition package to assist farmers on their sustainability journey, encompassing technical, commercial, and financial support.
According to a recent press release, McCain is committed to aiding Polish potato farmers by implementing a range of actions that promote sustainability. The partnership with BNP Paribas Bank Polska, a leader in supporting green transformation in Poland, underscores this commitment. Climate change, unpredictable weather, rising input costs, and regulatory uncertainties are creating new challenges for potato growers. In response, McCain aims to transform potato farming through regenerative agriculture practices, which focus on improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing the impact of synthetic inputs.
Leslie Camus, Vice President Agriculture, 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 but a matter of resilience for our entire supply chain. It is McCain’s duty to build a robust de-risking package to engage our grower partners into the transition and secure our long-term supply, while decarbonizing and preserving ecosystems, biodiversity, and soil health.”
BNP Paribas Bank Polska, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable financing, will support this initiative by sponsoring technical training and offering financial assistance to farmers. The bank’s sustainable financing amounted to PLN 8.9 billion, or 9.8% of its total loan portfolio, at the end of Q3 2023. Szymon Bielawa, Director, Head of North America Corporates Coverage at BNP Paribas Bank Polska, stated, “We are proud to enter a partnership with McCain, one of the global leaders in the sustainable transition of the food value chain. Our cooperation will be multidimensional, leveraging our global presence and expertise to support clients worldwide in achieving sustainability goals.”
The regenerative agriculture program is built on three pillars: technical support, commercial support, and financial support. McCain, in collaboration with independent agricultural expert Jerzy Prochnicki Ph.D., will provide guidance and training to farmers on soil health, organic matter, cover crop management, crop diversification, and biodiversity enhancement. McCain will also offer a three-year contract with a premium in zloty per ton of potatoes delivered from regenerative agriculture fields to incentivize farmers’ participation.
Jerzy Prochnicki highlighted the benefits of regenerative agronomic practices: “Regenerative agronomic practices restore and enhance soil fertility, enabling the cost-effective production of high-quality food, especially for demanding crops like potatoes. These practices also help sequester excess atmospheric carbon in the soil, mitigating climate change.”
McCain’s agricultural manager in Poland, Roman Majchrzycki, expressed enthusiasm about the program: “After the successful roll-out of McCain Regenerative Agriculture programs in France and the Netherlands, I am proud we are now launching our program in Poland to support the sustainability of supply and strengthen collaboration with our farmers.”
This partnership marks a significant milestone in McCain’s journey towards regenerative agriculture and aligns with the company’s global commitment to implement these practices across 100% of its potato acreage by 2030. The initiative also coincides with McCain celebrating 25 years of manufacturing excellence at its Strzelin facility, setting a bright future for the company in Poland.
