National Support Centre for Agriculture

KOWR on an international stage

On April 16–17, 2026, in Malta, representatives of KOWR took part in a meeting of the AEIAR (European Association of Rural Land Management Administrations) Executive Board, a study visit, and a seminar on agricultural land protection policy, organized during the Agri Fair agricultural trade show.

The National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) was represented by Tomasz Ciodyk, Deputy Director General of KOWR, and Bogdan Podgórski, manager in the Agricultural Property Stock Management Department, who also serves as Vice President of AEIAR.

Seminar on the challenges of the agriculturalland market

The highlight of the visit was an international seminar organized by the Maltese Ministry of Agriculture. The event focused on the challenges associated with the protection of agricultural land, which are particularly significant in Malta due to land prices there being among the highest in the European Union (approximately 250,000 euros per hectare).

The Maltese side, which is working on new regulations in this area, was interested in the experiences of countries that have laws restricting land sales and stabilizing the market.

Exchange of European experiences

The seminar served as a platform for the transfer of knowledge among AEIAR member countries. Experts and representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Latvia, and Poland presented solutions related to the protection of agricultural land, land management, and support for farmers.

The topics discussed included:

• regulation of land prices and lease rents in France,
• financial instruments supporting new farmers in Italy,
• land market management tools in Latvia (including land funds),
• tax solutions and inheritance systems in Germany,
• the agricultural land management model in Poland.

The Polish experiences, presented by KOWR, focused on the management of state-owned land and on a discussion of mechanisms supporting the development of individual farms.

Speakers and trends

Speakers at the seminar included Malta’s Minister of Agriculture, Anton Refalo, and the Director of the Department of Agriculture, Marco Dimech, who outlined the direction of Malta’s national agricultural policy. The discussion focused on planned legislative changes regarding the protection of agricultural land.

AEIAR's operations and the association's experiences in recent years were presented by its President, Michel Baylac.

Cooperation within the AEIAR

Participation in the event was not only an opportunity to present Polish solutions, but also to actively engage in the European debate on the future of agricultural land management—particularly in the context of rising price pressures and limited land resources.

The visit also included a meeting of the AEIAR leadership and a study visit to a family farm specializing in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

The European Association of Rural Land Management Administrations (AEIAR), founded in 1966, is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in Europe. Poland has been a member since 2003 and actively participates in the exchange of experiences regarding the agricultural land market and the management of public lands.