Cooperation between European agricultural regions strengthened by Polish delegation visit to the Azores - Communication

Direção Regional da Agricultura, Veterinária e Alimentação

As part of the cooperation among European agricultural regions within the AGRIREGIONS network, a delegation from the Polish region of Wielkopolska visited the Azores from July 15 to 19.

The delegation comprised the President of the Regional Assembly of Wielkopolska, Tatiana Sokołowska; the Vice-Marshal of the Region, Krzysztof Grabowski, who is responsible for agriculture and rural development; and representatives from the departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rural Development Programmes, and the local Agricultural Advisory Centre.

With around 3.5 million inhabitants, Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) is one of Poland's most important historical, economic, and political regions, as well as one of the most developed in Central Europe.

In terms of agriculture, it is one of the country's most productive regions, excelling in cereal production, dairy production, pig farming, poultry farming, horticulture, and fruit growing.

The visit was primarily intended to foster the exchange of experiences and best practices in agriculture, rural development, animal production, the promotion of regional products, innovation, applied research, and agricultural system sustainability, as well as to strengthen institutional relations.

In this regard, the Polish delegation expressed particular interest in learning about the Azorean experience in dairy and beef production, pasture-based farming systems, traditional cheesemaking, certification and promotion of regional products, rural development in island and outermost contexts, and viticulture in volcanic soils.

During the visit, which covered the islands of Faial, Pico, Terceira, and São Miguel, the members of the delegation were accompanied by members of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, including the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food; the Regional Directorate for Rural Development; the Azores Vine and Wine Institute; and local Agrarian Development Services. Together, they met directly with local producers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses.

The programme provided insights into various dimensions of Azorean agriculture, ranging from primary production to processing, value creation, cooperative organisation, research, and innovation.

This diversity was precisely one of the aspects most highlighted by the Vice-Marshal of Wielkopolska, Krzysztof Grabowski, who noted that he was particularly impressed by the differences between the islands in terms of "landscape, territory and agriculture itself."

He noted that this variety is reflected in the diversity of Azorean products, providing a distinct commercial advantage and bolstering the Region's food self-sufficiency.

Despite differences in climate, terrain and production methods between the two territories, the Vice-Marshal identified several common points in dairy and beef production, emphasising a key unifying factor: "I believe that farmers is what truly unites us. Without them, we would not be here. They are the ones who work the land daily, keep the agricultural sector alive and, above all, feed the world," stated Krzysztof Grabowski.

He also highlighted the potential to deepen cooperation both through technical knowledge sharing and closer coordination to advocate for the sector within European institutions.

"We are both regions within AGRIREGIONS, and we have our own specific realities and characteristics that must be heard and considered at a European level. If we work together and unite our voices, we will certainly have a greater capacity to defend our regions' interests," he emphasised.

During a meeting with the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, both parties expressed a shared commitment to align their positions to ensure that agricultural priorities reach the European Union, particularly during negotiations for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.

The President of the Regional Assembly of Wielkopolska, Tatiana Sokołowska, also assessed the visit very positively, emphasising that closer ties between both regions hold enormous potential for expansion into areas such as culture and tourism.

During their visit to São Miguel, the delegation took part in the Azores Beef Fest 2026, where they were welcomed by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura.

For the Azorean government official, “this visit was a success and achieved its goal of deepening mutual understanding among European agricultural regions which, although very distant and very different, are united by the common goals of promoting the sustainable development of their agricultural sectors and the quality of life of their farmers.”

António Ventura emphasised that firsthand knowledge of the realities of island agriculture among Central and Eastern European regions is vital for building allies on the European stage. 

“The Azores have a very distinctive agricultural situation, shaped by their remoteness, outermost region status, small scale and distance from markets. It is important that other regions be aware of these specific characteristics and understand the need for European policies tailored to different regional circumstances,” he added.

Highlighting the importance of this alignment at a particularly relevant moment for European agricultural policy, the Regional Secretary expressed his optimism: "I am confident that we have strengthened an important partnership and gained an ally in defending the interests of our agricultural regions at a crucial moment for defining the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework."