A meeting on 18 September 2023 between the head of Poland’s National Agricultural Support Centre and farmer‑turned‑president of Dawtona, Andrzej Wielgomas, is now at the center of a scandal over corn and a 160‑hectare land sale to the Central Communication Port.
Unexpected Encounter
On 10 September 2023, Wirtualna Polska sent inquiries to the National Agricultural Support Centre (KOWR) regarding the sale of land earmarked for the Central Communication Port. KOWR responded on 16 September, and a meeting between its chief and Andrzej Wielgomas was scheduled for two days later.
The Corn Connection
During the meeting, Wielgomas invited the KOWR official to visit his corn‑processing plant in Błonie, a site he had also visited last year in Milejów. KOWR collaborates with Dawtona, which processes vegetables for the Centre’s companies. Henryk Smolarz, then KOWR deputy, explained that the topic was corn harvest season, which was to be discussed that day.
KOWR’s Response
The KOWR chief said he was unaware of Wirtualna Polska’s questions. He noted that the Central Communication Port had sent several written notices to KOWR in Zabłotnia. “Documents arrive ready for signing, simply amid a pile of various paperwork,” he said, adding that he did not record the notes himself.
Sale of 160 Hectares
On 1 December 2023, during the brief government of Mateusz Morawiecki, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development approved the sale of 160 hectares for 23 million zloty. The land was intended for a high‑speed rail line from Warsaw to CPK, potentially raising its value to about 400 million zloty after rezoning. The buyer was Piotr Wielgomas, vice‑president of Dawtona, who stated he purchased as a private farmer exercising his pre‑purchase rights, unaware of the land’s future use in CPK plans.
Political Fallout
Following the scandal, Jarosław Kaczyński suspended four PiS members: Agriculture Minister Robert Telus, former deputy minister Rafał Romanowski, former KOWR chief Waldemar Humięcki, and former KOWR Warsaw deputy director Jerzy Wal.
