The grain storage facility in Witoldowo, operating since 1989 under the management of the company Top Farms Wielkopolska, is facing potential liquidation, according to the financial news portal Bankier.pl. The facility, leased from the resources of the State Treasury, is to be dismantled, and the land transferred to the Agricultural Property Stock of the State Treasury. As Bankier.pl reports, this decision stems from the lack of response by the National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) to Top Farms’ applications for the establishment of agricultural production centres, which would allow these strategic agricultural facilities to continue operating. The absence of such decisions threatens the stability of large commercial farms, and consequently, Poland’s food security.
The facility in Witoldowo is a modern complex that has been systematically upgraded over the years to meet the demands of contemporary agriculture. It enables the storage and drying of nearly 5,400 tons of agricultural produce, including grains, rapes, soys, and peas. As Piotr Jakubowski, a board member of Top Farms Wielkopolska, emphasized in an interview with Newseria, the facility remains fully functional and could continue operating for another 20 to 30 years. Equipped with an advanced drying system, it enables efficient harvest collection even under unfavourable weather conditions—a crucial factor for local mills and the food industry.
Administrative Deadlock Threatens Agricultural Infrastructure and Regional Economy
The central issue lies in the lack of a decision from KOWR regarding the future of the facility. For years, Top Farms has engaged in dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture and KOWR, proposing various solutions, such as the capital acquisition of the company or the establishment of agricultural production centres incorporating cattle farms. Unfortunately, as Jakubowski notes, all such proposals have gone unanswered. Meanwhile, a 2011 law mandates that leaseholders return 30 percent of their agricultural land for redistribution to individual farmers, complicating infrastructure management. As a result, the company is being forced to dismantle key installations, potentially leading to irreversible losses.
The liquidation of the Witoldowo facility represents not only a blow to agricultural infrastructure but also to the local economy. As noted by Łukasz Stasiak, Director of Storage and Logistics at Top Farms, about 40 percent of the 6,000 hectares of reclaimed land remains unused, leading to frustration among both farmers and local residents. The absence of formal agreements with KOWR prevents the efficient transfer of land, further weakening the competitiveness of Polish agriculture. Moreover, dismantling the facility threatens the supply of industrial potatoes, of which Top Farms supplies approximately 10 percent of the entire Polish market.
Policy Paralysis Undermines Agricultural Progress, Jobs, and National Food Security
The situation is particularly perplexing in light of current government support programs. The Ministry of Agriculture, under the National Recovery Plan, offers subsidies for the modernization of storage infrastructure. Nearly 13,000 applications have already been submitted, amounting to more than PLN 513 million.
Jakubowski highlights that KOWR’s inertia contradicts these governmental initiatives. The absence of a property division plan for leaseholders, despite more than a decade to prepare one, exacerbates the confusion and uncertainty within the agricultural sector.
The most severe consequences of the facility’s closure will be felt by its employees. Top Farms, one of the largest employers in the region, employs 165 full-time staff and 105 seasonal workers. As Iwona Kubicz from the Top Farms Press Office underscores, the closure of the facility would result in the loss of employment for multi-generational farming families in counties with high unemployment rates. For many, securing alternative employment will be nearly impossible, deepening the region’s socio-economic challenges.
Decisions regarding the establishment of agricultural production centres were to be finalized by March 31, 2025, to align with the agronomic cycle. KOWR’s failure to act forces Top Farms to take measures that could irreparably harm Polish agriculture. The dismantling of the Witoldowo facility signifies not only the loss of modern infrastructure but also poses a threat to food security and the economic stability of the Greater Poland region. As Jakubowski stresses, Top Farms’ struggle is not merely about the survival of a single company—it is a battle for the future of Polish agriculture.