Browse Data and Analysis

On April 15, 2023, Poland introduced an entry ban on certain agri-food products from Ukraine, amid difficult economic situation of famers on a domestic market. Following intensive negotiations with the Ukrainian side, since April 21, 2023, transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through the Polish territory is allowed, while the import ban on agri-food goods from Ukraine is maintained until June 30, 2023.

In January 2017, hemp cultivation became legal pursuant to Italian law No. 242/2016 promoting hemp cultivation and its industrial uses, leading to a sector revival, with more than 800 farms cultivating 4,000 hectares (ha).

Spring planting in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which usually takes place in April, is expected to be less costly this year as diesel and fertilizer prices decreased slightly since last year. Corn in marketing year (MY) 2023/2024 is expected to be planted on 202,000 hectares (HA) with anticipated production of 900,000 metric tons (MT).

The European Commission requested a scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on microorganisms produced by new developments in biotechnology.

By early April 2023, many Ukrainian official agencies and private companies published their end-of-the-year results. This report provided valuable insight into wartime macroeconomic and agricultural developments.

EU27 sugar production forecast for market year (MY) 2023/24 is projected at 15.3 million metric tons (MMT), resulting from reduced beet acreage in France and increased plantings in other member states.

The area planted in sugar beets in MY 2023/24 is forecast marginally higher as some farmers will likely switch to growing beets in hopes of better returns. Despite this increase in acreage, beet sugar production is projected to remain flat year-to-year at 3 million metric tons because of drought conditions.

The European Union (EU) follows a complex, rolling system of review for active ingredients and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in food. For agricultural inputs, U.S. farmers must know early in the process of review to prevent or mitigate the loss of, and/or access to, chemical inputs.

On April 14, 2023, the first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in pigs in Poland in 2023 was announced. It is the first outbreak since September 2022, detected on a small backyard farm in Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia) province.

In MY 2023/24, EU’s grain production is anticipated to reach 285 MMT, up from the 267 MMT registered the previous season, when a severe drought pushed yields down. Favorable initial crop development conditions are reported across the EU, although spring rains in the EU’s southwest will be critical to replenish soil moisture and allow for yields to bounce back to average levels.

In the past year, meat and milk prices have skyrocketed due to a variety of factors, among which are insufficient cattle inventories, high input costs, semi-effective government policies, and limitations on importing meat and live animals.

According to the latest data released by the National Association of the Canned Vegetables Industry (Anicav), Italy is the third largest processed tomato producer in the world (behind the United States and China), representing approximately 14.8 percent of the global production and 56.5 percent of Europe’s production, with revenue of nearly $5.4 billion in 2022.