The President of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture, Mladen Jakopović, warns about long-standing problems in the Croatian meat industry, particularly the pressures from large retail chains favoring cheaper imported meat. This has led to a drastic decline in self-sufficiency in meat production, especially pork and beef, resulting in meat shortages and increased presence of older, frozen meat on shelves. Jakopović emphasizes that such meat is not necessarily unsafe but often does not meet consumer expectations regarding freshness and quality. He advocates for buying meat from local butchers to ensure transparency and support domestic production, as well as better utilization of European agricultural funds for the development of the processing industry.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the negative impact of large retail chains and market liberalization on local producers, highlighting the need for stronger regulations and support for domestic agriculture to protect workers and ensure food quality.
Center: Center-leaning sources focus on the economic challenges faced by the Croatian meat industry, acknowledging the pressures from cheaper imports and the importance of consumer awareness and local purchasing to sustain domestic production.
Right: Right-leaning sources stress the importance of free market competition but also highlight the need for consumers to support local producers voluntarily. They emphasize personal responsibility in choosing quality domestic products and criticize bureaucratic inefficiencies in utilizing EU agricultural funds.
