Podravka at the meeting with cooperatives announced strengthening of domestic raw material production

The development of domestic agriculture and the increase in raw material production are essential for Podravka, as this enhances the quality of its products, and through cooperation with cooperatives, it contributes to the wider community, said Martina Dalić, CEO of Podravka, on Friday in Varaždin, at a meeting with cooperatives at the Fruit and Vegetable Factory.

– We will continue cooperation with smaller producers to improve our production – she emphasized.

This year, Podravka has cultivated over 700 hectares of land under vegetables for its own needs, across more than 250 farms throughout Croatia.

– In agricultural production and cooperation with cooperatives, we have made significant progress this year in the way we collaborate and in raising the quality of our partnership to a higher level, and we have achieved the results we wanted and planned, especially in terms of quantities – said Dalić.

She highlighted that the biggest challenge in the future will be climate and weather conditions, but that Podravka is determined to participate in overcoming them by sharing knowledge with cooperatives.

Member of the management board of Podravka responsible for agriculture Ivan Ostojić reminded that around 12 million euros have been invested in the tomato processing factory in Varaždin.

The processing capacity of the factory is 42,000 tons per year, from which it is planned to obtain 6,000 tons of tomato concentrate. This would allow Podravka to source raw materials for all its products where tomatoes are key, from its own production, i.e., from tomatoes grown in Croatia.

– This was the key goal when this investment was initiated, along with substituting imports and increasing domestic production – said Ostojić.

Last year, 26,000 tons of tomatoes were produced in Croatia, of which Podravka produced 15,000 tons, and this year it managed to double production to 30,000 tons.

In 2025, it plans to increase production, expanding the area under tomatoes to 520 hectares, as well as the number of cooperatives, in order to reach the desired production of 40,000 tons.

Cooperatives satisfied, concerned about climate change

As part of the gathering, a panel was held where Podravka’s cooperatives expressed satisfaction with the cooperation and stated that the model in which a large company supports small producers is the direction in which Croatian agriculture should go. Purchase and price are secured, and processing capacities add value to their products, they said.

They also praised the availability of Podravka’s experts, which is important for most of them as this is only their first or second season in tomato production. They highlighted their satisfaction with the yields achieved and their plans to expand production. They called on Podravka to invest even more in domestic farmers, emphasizing that they have the will and necessary knowledge and just need to be given the opportunity. They also warned of the challenges posed by climate change.

Dorotea Canto from OPG Roštan Cahunek from Đurđevac said that her yield this year is 140 tons per hectare, which she is very satisfied with, and she plans to increase the area from six to ten hectares.

She stated that she secures her crops, as production without it makes no sense. For now, she has no problem with securing, but she says that in the future, due to climate change, it will become increasingly difficult to secure agricultural production.

Tomato producer from Cerna, Mirko Bošković, also stated that he is satisfied with the cooperation with Podravka, achieving a yield of 112 tons per hectare and that he plans to expand production.

He also highlighted climate change as one of the biggest challenges.

In the end, awards were given to cooperatives in three categories, based on yield size on land up to five, ten, and over ten hectares.