This study examines the concentration processes and the risk opportunities arising from its structure in the food chain in Hungary between 2015 and 2019. Due to population growth, changing diets and climate change, the food chain faces significant challenges. This has mostly involved an increase in sectoral concentration and the development of closer vertical and horizontal cooperation. However, during sectoral consolidation, less competitive sectoral actors, mainly small producers and family farms, are being squeezed out of the market. Family farms are also an important element of the agricultural policies of the EU and Hungary, but the producer structure is often fragmented and cooperation at the sectoral level is lacking. In light of this, this study discusses food industry concentration and its potential effects, also from the perspective of other factors, such as price volatility and environmental issues. Our results show that there are significant differences in concentration between the levels of retail trade, food processing and raw material production. The food chain will increasingly need to reduce its environmental impact in the future, which will require increased competitiveness and sectoral cooperation. Solving these problems has always been important, but with the increase in environmental challenges, it has become even more important.
