The closure of the Považský sugar factory by its German owner, Nordzucker, has dealt a severe blow to the Slovak food industry, as the factory was responsible for producing nearly half of the country's sugar. Approximately 120 agricultural enterprises that cultivated sugar beets for the factory are now struggling to obtain compensation for their losses, as they had already prepared their fields for the spring planting season. With the factory's abrupt shutdown, these farmers are left in uncertainty about how to utilize their land effectively.

Agro-minister Richard Takáč's plans to purchase the sugar factory seem to be fading, given that the German owners are unwilling to sell. Discussions surrounding the expropriation of the factory are deemed unrealistic, as any legal battle with the German owner would be lengthy and complex, only adding to the farmers' woes and uncertainty about the future. Moreover, there is some relief in that the price of sugar may not rise immediately, as the European Union currently has a surplus of sugar and consumption is on a decline.

The agricultural community is facing a challenging period, as the closure not only threatens their livelihoods but also impacts national food security since sugar was one of the last essential foods in which Slovakia maintained some level of self-sufficiency. The farmers' push for compensation highlights the challenges of agricultural reliance on single processing facilities and the complexities of cross-border ownership in the EU market.