Hydroponic cultivation of leafy greens and herbs in Poland is entering a phase of strong growth, according to Piotr Izdebski, CEO of Smart Vegetables Innovations. Speaking at the XVIII Food Market and Trade Forum (FRSiH 2025) during the debate "Strong Agriculture and Processing – Guaranteeing Food Security", Izdebski highlighted the sector's potential to reduce dependence on imports.
Polish consumers currently rely on imports for around half of their leafy green vegetables, with Spain's Murcia region supplying approximately 35–40 million kilograms annually. "We believe that through the development of our local hydroponic business, we can limit imports and strengthen food security," Izdebski said.
Hydroponic systems, grown in controlled environments and without pesticides, provide 100% organic products close to urban centers, meeting modern consumer demands for quality, traceability, and sustainability. Izdebski emphasized that short and transparent supply chains are key to the sector's strategy, helping to mitigate risks from climate change, water scarcity, labor shortages, and regulatory pressures.
The CEO also called for clearer regulation of hydroponic production. "Our sector is sometimes classified as agriculture, other times as food processing. We need a rational regulatory framework to expand production capacity and contribute to national food security," he said.
Izdebski stressed that Poland is ready to compete with southern European producers. "We aim to provide products efficiently, but also with added value. Our goal is not just low-cost production, but quality, sustainable leafy greens that offer more than price alone."
The debate at FRSiH 2025 highlighted hydroponics as a growing segment of Polish agriculture, seen as a modern and resilient approach to ensuring year-round supply of vegetables while responding to environmental and consumer challenges.
Source: www.portalspozywczy.pl
