Search

The aim of the research is to analyze English language scientific articles that have been published in the scientific journal entitled Annals PAAAE from 2009 to 2018 by using tools of text mining and text analysis, measuring how the frequency of key terms has changed, and to conclude the probable change of research focus of authors based on it. The subjects of the research are 393 English language articles that have been issued in the volumes of Annals PAAAE (Polish title is Roczniki Naukowe SERiA) from 2009 to 2018 (from Vol. 11 to Vol. 20), which are ready to download in pdf format on the website of the publishing house. Text mining and text analysis were conducted using own self-adapted routines of samples written in the R language programme. At the hierarchic cluster analysis, the Ward D method was used, and the association of frequency of terms was measured using Pearson’s correlation. It was found that the weight of research concerning the context of the product-production-market has increased, but there was low usage of the term “competitiveness”. What was of key significance was that in the case of clustering articles by author nationality, the role of the origin of the author has decreased as a determinant factor, which could suggest the uniformity of terminology as well as similarity of research topics and the researcher’s interests, which can initialize cooperation and common research. The growth of the number of articles elaborated on by international teams is also a projection of this tendency.

The paper deals with the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the crepe paper and chickpaper. The thickness of crepe paper was 300 m with the surface mass 150 g*m-2 and chickpaper paper thickness was 100 m with the surface mass 40 g*m-2. Crepe paper and chickpaper are usually used for chicken breeding. Longitudinal and transversal tensile properties were studied. The tensile behavior was monitored on the motorized test stand ANDILOG STENTOR 1000 (Andilog Technologies, Vitrolles, France).There were measured the tensile properties as modulus of elasticity, maximal elongation, maximal tensile force, tensile strengths, tensile index and strain at break of the longitudinal and transversal samples by testing paper strips. Mean values of the maximal elongation b of longitudinal chickpaper samples were three times smaller than maximal elongation of transversal samples. Mean values of maximal tensile force Ft, tensile strength btensile indexwand maximal strain at break T of longitudinal chickpaper samples were two times smaller than maximal quantities of transversal samples. Mean values of the tensile modulus of elasticity of longitudinal and transversal chickpaper samples were almost equal. Chickpaper mechanical properties in tension were different in the longitudinal and transversal direction of the original paper surface. Mean values of the maximal elongation b and maximal strain at break T of longitudinal crepe paper samples were sixty times smaller than maximal elongation and maximal strain at break of transversal samples. Mean values of maximal tensile force Ft, tensile strength bandtensile indexwof longitudinal crepe paper samples were fourth times smaller than maximal quantities of transversal samples. Mean values of the tensile modulus of elasticity of longitudinal samples of crepe paper were thirty eight times smaller than values of transversal samples.

Due to the rapid expansion of irrigated agriculture, effi cient use of the limited water resources in arid and semi-arid regions is becoming more and more vital. However, water salinity is a major problem due to its negative infl uence on the yields of many crops. It reduces citrus trees’ growth and causes physiological disorders. Primarily salt-stress lowers net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, and water potential of citrus tree leaves, in addition to accumulation of excessive concentration of Chloride or Sodium in leaves. A great deal of research indicates that citrus have the genetic potential to be salt-sensitive; however inheritance studies in citrus are scarce. In this paper the adverse of effects of salinity on physiological aspects of citrus are reviewed. The review summarizes the prevailing state of knowledge about the responses and tolerance of citrus trees to salinity.

This paper primarily aims to address aspects related to regional development in Romania, which has become a challenge both at the national and global level. The way regional development is approached is different, depending on the particularities of each country, as well as the governing ideologies in each state. However, the goal is common, one aims at shaping a competitive and strong economy, a high standard of living, access to education and medical assistance. The purpose of the paper is to compare socio-economic indicators from two time periods, to highlight similarities and differences and to observe their evolution within a 10-year timespan. The method used is Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify groups of statistical indicators (variables) that explain the level of development within a sample, in our case the development regions of Romania. In the context of regional development, PCA can be applied to extract relevant information about economic, social or demographic variability in different regions of the country. Several objectives of regional development analyzed through the lens of this method were pursued: identification of regional disparities, optimization of resource allocation, evaluation of the determining factors of economic development, monitoring of the impact of regional policies. Following the PCA analysis, it was observed that regional development cannot be evaluated by means of variables belonging to a single sector. This method allowed the identification of the variables that have the greatest weight describing economic, social, educational and infrastructure aspects. PCA was applied for two time periods and similar situations were obtained, the first main component called by the authors the economic statistics includes for both periods the indicators: Gross average nominal salary gain, GDP by development regions, Employees from research and development activity at the end of the year, Beds in health facilities (state and private). The second component was called social statistics and includes the indicator Employment rate in working age (15-64 years), and the third component called agricultural statistics includes the indicator Population served by the public water supply system. As a conclusion, we consider that the situations are not overlapping because there are indicators that have undergone changes during the 10 years, which is expected and normal in regional development. For example, the number of graduates decreased due to the continuously decreasing birth rate, the vacancy rate decreased in 2018-2019 compared to 2008-2009 because Romania went through the financial economic crisis.

There is increasing relevance and interest in the concept of well-being in economics with economists and policy makers viewing it as very critical in gauging the pulse of an economy. It is seen as a key component in the evaluation of the performance and progress of an economy in addition to traditional economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Income per capita. This paper, based on a detailed review of literature aims to present the contributory factors of subjective perception of well-being among Nigeria’s rural inhabitants. It focuses on papers which examine the concept of well-being from renowned academic databases like Elsevier and ScienceDirect. This review provides a background to the complexities and variations of the concept of well-being as well as gaining an in-depth understanding of existing research and opinions on the subject matter. The conclusions from the research show that subjective well-being is multi-dimensional and understanding its multi-dimensional nature can help in shaping economic policies. With respect to rural Nigeria, housing, infrastructure, community engagements and financial security are highly contributory to the subjective perception of an individual’s well-being. With a holistic grasp of these factors, local government authorities may device means to create an environment of prosperity and fulfillment in order for the inhabitants to thrive and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the energy intensity of production in the Polish agri-food (agribusiness) sector, split into agriculture, food industry and supply subsectors, in the light of input-output tables. The study relies on input-output tables and physical energy flow accounts. Energy plays a key role in today’s society as it affects economic growth and the standards of living, while also being at the core of international conflicts, mainly caused by its limited resources. Compared to other sectors, agribusiness demonstrates particularly high levels of energy consumption. Agriculture, which is part of it, has a large share in the consumption of fuels derived from crude oil. This paper presents the consumption of energy in each of the four aggregates of agribusiness, as well as their GDP (in PPS) and energy consumption mix (split into 6groups of energy carriers). The authors found that between2014 and2019, energy consumption in the agribusiness industry increased by ca.9% and was accompanied by ca.8% growth in GDP. The sector’s energy intensity was half more than the average level for the economy as a whole, and remained at ca.5.6TJ per EUR1million of GDP in PPS. Only the food industry was at a level of energy efficiency similar to that of the economy as a whole, whereas the agricultural supply subsector was the only one to demonstrate lower levels. Both the economy as a whole and the agribusiness sector clearly tend to reduce the share of coal and related products in the energy mix.

The escalating global demand for food, propelled by population growth, necessitates increased use of plant protection products. However, heavy reliance on chemical pesticides poses sustainability challenges due to their persistence in the environment and potential toxicity to humans and wildlife. To address these concerns, there is a growing shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly plant protection measures, notably biological preparations. This paper explores the potential of alternative methods, particularly biological preparations, for plant protection. It delves into three main categories: plant extracts, compost extracts, and tree bark-based preparations. Plant extracts, derived from sources like nettle, brown algae, and horsetail, exhibit promising antifungal and antibacterial properties, bolstering plant resistance against pathogens. Compost extracts, rich in diverse microbial populations, offer soil enhancement and disease suppression benefits. Additionally, preparations based on tree bark, abundant in phenolic compounds, demonstrate antimicrobial effects against various pathogens. Although some biological preparations are more effective than chemically produced ones, continued research and development of these alternatives are needed to ensure their effectiveness and availability.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the current level of knowledge, competence and interest of agronomists in participating in the digitalisation of agriculture in Croatia, as well as the role of some stakeholders in training the farmers since it can be assumed that agronomists will play a significant, perhaps even decisive role in the process of digitalisation of agriculture in Croatia. Primary data were collected through a survey using an online questionnaire (n = 80) as a research tool. The target group of respondents were agronomists, regardless of their age and occupation. According to the research findings, 20.0% of respondents have some difficulties in using digital technologies, while 12.5% of respondents do not use digital technologies at all. On the 5-point agreement scale (1 to 5), respondents rated the importance of agronomists in the digitalisation of agriculture at 4.54, their personal interest in participating in digitalisation at 4.38, and their current competence for digitalisation at 3.09. The main conclusions are that the majority of respondents believe that: 1. Agronomists are important and well-trained to participate in the digitalisation process of Croatian agriculture.; 2. Faculties, extension services, the Chamber of Croatian Agronomists, distributors and producers of software and digital equipment should play a key role in providing additional training in digital skills.; 3. Knowledge of digital technologies is equally important for medium and large farms as well as for state units.

The aim of the work is to assess selected environmental and organizational aspects, as well as the level of changes occurring in farms, and therefore in agriculture in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The survey-based research was carried out in 2023. The paper presents state of advancement of selected aspects of the deagrarianisation and deanimalisation processes in the area of 44 communes in the Lesser Poland and Silesian voivodeships. When dividing into two so-called macro-categories, as groups B-C (retarding farms) and C-D (degressive farms), the results indicate predominance of entities from the latter group (65%). This confirms the thesis that in research area there are problems of agrarian and structural changes, which also affect the environment. Especially crucial for the research are issues related to the advancement of deanimisation process, which is an abandonment of animal husbandry. It has a direct influence on development and use of production potential of permanent grasslands and also diversity of crops. The share of farms keeping cattle in all analyzed communes is only approximately 3-7%. It can therefore be concluded that this phenomenon is highly advanced in the majority of farms.

The aim of this paper is to present the situation and create a SWOT analysis organic animal husbandry production in the Republic of Croatia during the last decade, research its development potential, and to make a comparison with the situation in other EU countries. Organic animal husbandry is constantly increasing in the Republic of Croatia (increase in number of cows, sheep, goats and ungulates), as well as in most EU countries. During the last decade, numerous activities/measures were undertaken which led to an increase in the area of used agricultural land under organic production, and now they occupy 8.57% of the total used agricultural area of the Republic of Croatia, while in the EU is 9.9%. The potentials for the development of organic animal husbandry production in Croatia are shown in the SWOT analysis and they are very good; not only because of the wealth of natural resources, various incentive measures, the preservation of numerous protected and GMO-free landscapes suitable for the aforementioned production, the abundance of neglected land areas that quickly could be put into use, regulated legislation; but also because of the emphasis on tourist destinations and friendly farming. In the EU countries, the need for better education of organic farmers as well as consumers of organic animal products is also emphasized, as well as raising the quality of coexistence with animals and the environment while preserving biodiversity, better distribution of incentives for this sector with opportunities for the development of numerous protected and rural areas.

The aim of this paper is to examine and understand the impact of various green economy indicators on economic growth in Poland from 2010 to 2021. The study focused on a select number of indicators, including the final energy intensity of the economy, expenditures on environmental fixed assets in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), the share of renewable electricity in gross final electricity consumption, primary energy intensity of GDP, and the percentage of urban green areas. The relationship between green economy indicators and economic growth, expressed as gross domestic product per capita, was examined using regression analysis, time series analysis and correlation analysis. Data for the analysis were taken from the Central Statistical Office. Time trend analysis showed that the economy’s final energy intensity and the share of renewable energy improved steadily over the period under review, with a positive impact on GDP per capita. Correlation analysis demonstrated a robust inverse correlation between energy intensity and GDP per capita, along with a positive association between the share of renewable energy and economic growth. In linear and multiple regressions, the economy’s final energy intensity, expenditures on environmental fixed assets, and the share of renewable energy exhibited a significant impact on GDP per capita. The study’s conclusions underscore the necessity of sustained and intensified efforts towards a green economy in Poland, which is pivotal for ensuring long-term economic growth and sustainable development.

This paper delves into a thorough risk assessment of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), within the aquatic ecosystems of the Danube-Tisa-Danube (DTD) network, which represents large land drained system between Serbia, Hungary, and Romania. The primary objective is to employ a Toxicity and Exposure Ratio (TER) framework, encompassing both acute and chronic considerations, to comprehensively evaluate the potential risks these agrochemicals pose to aquatic organisms in the intricate hydro system of the DTD. The study integrates field data, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modeling to quantify glyphosate and AMPA exposure levels in the DTD channels. Furthermore, it explores the toxicological impacts of these substances on a diverse range of aquatic organisms, such as fish, invertebrates, and amphibians, considering acute effects arising from short-term exposure and chronic effects resulting from prolonged interactions. This research aims to provide a holistic understanding of the risk landscape associated with glyphosate and AMPA in the DTD hydro system by employing the TER approach. The findings contribute valuable insights into the potential ecological implications of herbicide usage in this critical water network, aiding regulatory decision-making and facilitating the development of targeted mitigation strategies to safeguard aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem health.

The paper traces how the light source and light color influence the regenerative processes and morphogenesis in vitro cultures of Rebutia heliosa. To establish the vitroculture of R. heliosa, some explants from young plants, either buds or rounds cut from young stems and cross-sectioned were considered. The culture medium consisted of: macroelements and Fe EDTA Murashige-Skoog (1962), microelements Heller (1953), a mineral mixture to which the following vitamins were added: pyridoxine HCl, thiamine HCl and nicotinic acid (each 1 mg/l, each), m-inositol – 100 mg/l, sucrose – 20 g/l and agar-agar 7 g/l, without growth phytoregulators.The variable element was the lighting source. Fluorescent tubes and LEDs (monochrome but differently coloured) have been used: blue (λ = 470 nm), yellow (λ = 580 nm), green (λ = 540 nm), red (λ = 670 nm) as well as LED`s emitting white light (λ = 510 nm) at a luminous intensity of 1000 lux. The evolution of R. heliosa vitro cultures was monitored for 90 days and analyzed their reaction variability. Based on the comparative study, the following can be stated: the light of fluorescent tubes is more suitable for the morphogenesis of R. heliosa vitroplants, but the processes of regeneration and organogenesis are directly influenced by the source and color of light influenced, thus rhizogenesis and caulogenesis is favored by the presence of green and red light emitted by LEDs, while the white and yellow light of fluorescent tubes favors the caulogenesis and callusogenesis processes.

The paper aims to present the determinants of tourism development in the context of the challenges of today’s economy, i.e. the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the need for the tourism sector to prepare for climate change and the digital transformation of the economy. The study is scoping. To achieve the research objective, a study of domestic and foreign literature, induction, deduction, generalisation and synthesis, and research results of other authors were used. The research used studies from UNWTO, World Travel & Tourism Council, Statista, Travel Trends 2023 (Simon-Kuchner), a European Commission report and other author’ research. The research showed that in the third decade of the 21st century, the tourism sector is affected by health (COVID-19 pandemic), military and geopolitical threats, inflation, climate change and digital technologies. These phenomena influence the behaviour and attitudes of tourists worldwide and shape the opportunities for developing the tourism sector in each country at the macro-, meso- and micro levels. The challenges identified have created, and some will continue to create, crisis risks in tourism. It calls for building a more robust, more sustainable and resilient tourism economy for the future. It will require appropriate economic, climate, and energy policies from governments in many countries.

The different sectors of the livestock industry play an important role in meeting the increasing demand for animal products in both Hungary and Croatia. The general objective of this study was to investigate and compare the efficiency of the livestock sectors in Croatia and Hungary using the Data Envelopment Analysis method. In this paper, the technical efficiency of the dairy, beef, broiler, sheep and goat, and pig sectors from 2014 to 2017 is investigated based on the Farm Accountancy Data Network database. This paper compared farms of different size classes based on the Standard Production Value for more detailed insights. Among the five main livestock sectors, Hungary performs better in terms of farm technical efficiency in the dairy and beef sectors, while Croatia has higher efficiency scores in the sheep sector. The performances in the pig and broiler sectors are almost the same in both countries. Moreover, in the Hungarian poultry, pig, sheep and goat sectors and the Croatian dairy, beef and pig sectors, the technical efficiency of small-sized farms is better than that of medium-sized farms.

This paper addresses the measures taken to implement progress in agriculture, with particular emphasis on the role played by Post-Registration Variety Testing (PRVT). Special attention was paid to assessing the structure of financing streams for PRVT in Poland, how they evolve over time and how they differ between locations. The Reports on the Implementation of the Post-Registration Variety Testing (PRVT) Program in2010-2021 were used as source materials. Studies were carried out using 2010 constant prices. This paper found an increase in the number of PRVT research projects and experiments over the study period, which contributed to promoting biological progress, although the uses of PRVT findings differed between regions. Focus was also placed on the restructuring of financing for post-registration testing, with two leading streams being identified, namely the state budget and funds delivered by third parties, including private operators. The authors emphasized the importance of earmarked subsidies allocated to PRVT in the state budget, and the role they play in stimulating the transfer of knowledge and in promoting advancements and preserving biodiversity in Polish agriculture. The conclusion also points out the importance of PODs also in terms of the suitability of varieties for production in particular regions and under given technological conditions, which is in line with, among other things, the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, i.e. SDG 12 (ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns) and SDG 15 (protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss).

The goal of this paper is to suggest a list of indicators of farm sensitivity to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid changes for many economies, organisations, and individuals. Top-down restrictions in travel, obligatory infection tests, masks, and disinfection, closing of many service points combined with changes in consumer behaviour were undoubtedly a shock to many forms of business. Second-round consequences, such as changes in demand for certain products, truncated logistic chains, currency and price changes affected, among others, the agrifood sector. The paper is of methodical character. The paper is based on a short literature review concerning the vulnerability and sensitivity analysis for various organisation types (countries, regions, households) on external conditions (such as weather and economic conditions). Basing on the COVID-19 pandemic transmission channels to food and agriculture, the author suggests a set of indicators that can be used to analyse farm sensitivity to the pandemic. These measures, after necessary modifications, can be used also for measuring the impact of other exogenous shocks on farms.

The goal of this study is to create a theoretical model for the assessment of the least resource-intensive storage methods for the buffer stocks. The subject of the study was the available literature on food waste and food preservation methods. Food waste is often mentioned in the context of food security. Meanwhile, research on food waste mainly focuses on ex-post management of food waste rather than reducing food waste in the future. Thus, research on food waste tends towards energy security rather than food security. The bibliometric analysis shows that most of the research conducted focuses on the proper functioning of the supply chain and secondarily on economic food security. Therefore, the paper chooses to link the relevant elements of the analysis of food stock research to possible ways of processing food for long-term storage, based on the literature review. This is a preliminary analysis carried out using the expert method. This may allow some food to be processed into long-term food reserves, whose role is to stabilize food prices and make efficient use of resources in the value chain. To make proper use of such food, its processing and storage must be economically viable. According to this preliminary study, vacuum sealing may be the most efficient of the studied long-term storage methods, although it is not as durable as other methods.

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the commitment of Polish enterprises to implementing CSR activities during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also examined was the impact of the pandemic on labor efficiency, economic performance, interpersonal relations, corporate culture, social, environmental and economic responsibility, and on the implementation of new management systems. The study focused on Polish undertakings of different size, grouped into small, medium, large and extremely large enterprises. The research was based on the results of an online survey carried out in2022-2023 with a sample of 100enterprises from all over Poland. The author found that enterprises which had previously engaged in socially responsible actions were better prepared and more committed to fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents confirmed that additional measures were taken to protect both internal and external stakeholders. The results of this study allow to assess the differences in how the CSR concept can be viewed and approached to, which have an impact on its implementation, the scope of related actions, and corporate commitment (depending on company size).

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at determining the spatial variation in the carbon intensity of the agricultural sector in Europe. The analyses used the volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector (in 2020), expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent, calculated according to the IPCC methodology for 31 European countries. To reduce variance and the impact of country size on emissions, three emissivity factors were calculated, depending on: agricultural area, value of goods produced by agriculture and population. To verify the relationship between emissivity and location, the Moran autocorrelation coefficient was used, calculated on a modified weighting matrix that, in addition to the criterion of a common border, takes into account the similarity of objects in terms of the values of diagnostic variables (similarity determined using cluster analysis) – in this case indicators describing the emissivity of the agricultural sector. The study showed that there was no reason to reject the hypothesis of a random distribution of objects in space with respect to the values of the indicators included in the study. It can therefore be concluded that there are some similarities in the emissivity from the different European economies, as evidenced by the cluster analysis results, while there is no spatial correlation.

Due to the lack of reliable longitudinal data, farm income and income trends haven’t been much analysed in Croatia, specifically among horticultural producers. Based on Croatian Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), the goal of this paper is to research the income of all farms in comparison to horticultural farms. In addition, paper tests farm’s eligibility for Income Stabilization Tool (IST) compensation. Objectives of the paper are: (1) analysis of farm income in the period 2014-2017 for all farms and specifically for horticultural farms, and (2) analyse how many horticultural farms have potential for IST compensation. For the second objective, we prepared scenarios of annual income drop of 10%, 20%, and 30% of the three-year average income. Scenarios are shown for groups - wine, orchard, and olive farms (calculated group index) and for individual farms (calculated farm index). Results show that horticultural farms’ income is on the similar level to the data for all the farms in FADN. The group index calculation compared to farm index income calculation shows a higher number of farms eligible for IST. The paper might serve as a basis for the introduction of IST in Croatian agriculture.

For maintenance of biodiversity, mainly in sites of European importance and in hight natural value areas, is important the management of selected semi-natural and natural grasslands (SNaNG). In the first part of the paper we define SNaNG habitats in 7 categories (A-G), grouping several types of habitats. The categories were defined due to financing under the Rural Development Programme (RDP). Then, we provide their management conditions for 2014-2020, applied since 2015. The conditions must be applied by farms in order to claim subsidies within the submeasure protection of SNaNG habitats. The support belongs to the non-project measures of the RDP. In the last part of paper, we evaluated and analysed selected two financial ratios of profitability (return on equity and basic earning power) of a set of farms in Slovakia in year 2019. The farms are divided into two groups (supported farms receiving subsidies for protection of SNaNG habitats and unsupported farms without these subsidies) on the base of the Logit model. The data used for the analysis were obtained from the Information letters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic (MARD SR). The supported farms proved lower profitability in both ratios, but only in return on equity has been statistically significant difference (at the 90% confidence level). We can conclude that the subvention for protection of SNaNG habitats should be increased as the SNaNG habitats are also vital for non-productive ecosystem services (ES).

This study, based on bibliometrics (related to scientometrics) and science mapping, along with some sociological analytical insights, assesses contexts of the concept 'rural' in articles written by authors affiliated to JCEA (Journal of Central European Agriculture) member countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia (with addition of Austria because of geographical proximity and historical ties), using citation databases Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), and visualization software VOSviewer. Most papers are published outside the scope of agricultural production studies, clustered strongly in the fields of medicine, physical environment, social sciences, and ecological interactions. A small proportion of the reference to “rural” in agricultural science seems self-assumed in the general association of agricultural production with rural space. The papers mainly refer to geographical area, space or territory where interactions between specific social and natural processes take place. Topics tackling rural space as a societal form and arrangements, e.g. sustainable rural development and transformation, are the most recent. National and regional journals show strong recent presence but papers are also published in principal international journals. Co-author networking (countries / institutions / affiliations) indicates strong regional co-operation which is strongest in the immediate neighborhood. Co-authorship based on spatial proximity can be partly explained by less ambitious internationalization of research activities. Although publication patterns in both databases show similar traits, some database effect can be observed, also due to the inclusion of ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index) in 2015.

This paper presents a qualitative study on the organic discourse from the perspectives of consumers in the Czech Republic. The main aim of the paper is to identify partial discourses among consumers in the Czech Republic within the framework of a communication “concourse” on organic farming as one of the sustainable initiatives within the context of the Organic 3.0 concept. The paper is based on Q methodology with 44 final statements which represent current respondents’ discourses (perspectives) on the organic sector. Results reveal that Czech organic consumers could be divided into 3 specific groups – “Convinced organic globalists”, “Modest organic localists” and “Convinced organic rationalists”. The first group of consumers is convinced of the importance of organic farming at a global level and they emphasise the global economic importance of organic farming. The second group are protagonists of organic farming, despite seeing its shortcomings. In the terms of preferences, they rather prefer local food with regard to sustainability than organic food. The third group is characterised by a rationally economic view of organic farming. They see the barrier to further expansion of organic farming in economic factors, such as the price of organic food. The identified barriers of economic rationality and competition of local production are challenges to the future development of the organic sector and its position among other sustainable initiatives. The results also provide better insights into Czech organic consumers’ discourse and their perception of the Organic 3.0 concept.

The aim of the present paper is to show the results of the studies of food losses, as conducted in Poland in 2019, and to estimate the amount of food waste at a level of primary (agricultural) production in Poland during the years 2017-2018. Also, the differences between the food losses and food waste, based upon current definitions and legal regulations obligatory in Poland and the European Union, were indicated. The studies of food losses in primary production were carried out in the whole of Poland on a representative sample of 1,378 respondents from six sectors of the economy, with the utilization of a survey-questionnaire, using the PAPI (Paper& Pen Personal Interview) method. The mass of food waste was estimated on the grounds of the results of food losses and wastage, considering methods of management, excluding the destination for consumption purposes or animal feeds. From the conducted studies, it follows that the directions of management of food losses in primary (agricultural) production are different and are greatly dependent on the sector, i.e., the type of managed raw material, the causes of the resulting losses and the stage of production where the mentioned losses are generated. Food losses in agricultural production constitute 15% of total food losses in Poland, i.e., 749.48 thousand tonnes annually, whereas food waste is estimated at a level of 507.94 thousand tonnes per year. The appropriate management of losses in accordance with the hierarchy of proceeding with waste reduces the quantity of waste, decreasing, in effect, its negative impact on the environment.

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced many areas of human life, one of those areas is expenditure on food and food consumption in households. The paper aims to identify changes in household expenditure on food and food consumption in Poland in the span of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2021 (2022 when available). Based on data from Statistics Poland, percentage changes of nominal and real values as well as shares were presented. The results show that from 2015 to 2020 in real terms the value of household total expenditures increased and decreased after 2020. Households in Poland in 2020 spent more than earlier on food and non-alcoholic beverages and less on eating outside the house. The consumption of selected food products also changed in 2020 regarding the previous periods (2015-2019), but the majority of those changes were only temporary turmoil. Only the consumption of some dairy products in households in Poland increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed at a heightened level.

Current trends in the food market are influenced not only by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic but also by healthy lifestyles and sustainability. Therefore, functional meat products (FMP) are moving to food groups that could be more consumed due to their health benefits. The aim of the paper is to point out the attitude of Slovak consumers towards FMP consumption and to identify factors and reasons for consumption. The research is based on data obtained by conducting a questionnaire survey in Slovakia (n=1,138 respondents). By using statistical methods, consumer attitudes, preferences and reasons for FMP consumption were identified. The results showed that approximately 50% of consumers are regular consumers of FMP. Majority of consumers prefer fish, products with the addition of fish oil, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, fiber and vitamins. Fat content is the most important factor related to the composition of FMP during the purchase process. The key reasons for consumption are to support their health and to eliminate the risk of developing different diseases. For the favorable development of the market with FMP, it is necessary to inform consumers about the importance of FMP consumption. The results of the consumer study can be a suitable basis for experts and researchers in the field of public health and can be used by producers of meat products for the development and production of new FMP based on consumer requirements and improvement of their marketing strategies.

This paper aims to monitor the impact of Lactobacillus sporogenes (LS), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), the combination thereof Lactobacillus sporogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CLS) on the health status and the live weight gain in calves compared to a control group (C). The experiment took place in the period from March 2022 to March 2023. 100 Holstein heifers in the age from 1 to 56 days were included in the experiment. The differences in live weight gain were significant when the live weight gains were compared in the first 14 days after birth between the CLS vs C group (63,36.72 ± 4.81 vs 59.55 ± 4.55, P < 0,05) and in 56 days after the birth between the CLS vs C group, LS vs C group and SC vs C group (87,34 ± 4.95 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0,01; 86.41 ± 5.34 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0.05 an 85.92 ± 5.86 kg vs 83.15 ± 5.32 kg, P < 0.05). The differences in live weight gain between the experimental groups were not proved statistically P > 0.05. The impact on decrease and duration of diarrhea was not proved statistically P = 0.0634. However, a tendency to decrease the occurrence and duration thereof was proved. The impact of feed additives on the transmission of passive immunity in calves in their first week of life was not proved as statistically significant.

The paper aimed to determine humus quality in Terra rossa soils under olive groves with different soil management types. A total of 10 top-soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected in olive groves of Middle Dalmatia, Croatia, out of which 5 were from the traditional low-input olive groves (TOG) and 5 in the intensive olive groves (IOG). The soil samples were analyzed for basic soil properties, soil organic carbon (SOC), and fractional composition of humic substances. Spectroscopic characterization of humic substances was carried out by measuring absorbance in the VIS spectral range (400-700 nm). Optical index E4/E6 (ratio of optical absorbance at 465 to 665 nm for humic substances in solution) was calculated. The mean value of SOC in soils under TOG (3.06%) was lower than in soils under IOG (3.88%). Higher variations of carbon in humic (CHA) and fulvic acid (CFA) were observed in the soils under IOG. The mean CHA/CFA ratio in soils under TOG was higher than in soils of IOG (1.78 and 1.26, respectively). The soils under TOG had fulvic-humic to humic types, while the soils of IOG had humic-fulvic to humic types of humus. A lower mean E4/E6 index of soils under TOG than IOG (3.78 and 4.36, respectively) confirmed the results of the classical analytical method. Our findings reveal higher variation and lower humus quality in soils under intensive olive cultivation.

The aim of the paper is to outline the problem areas of fertilizer management in Poland, taking the need to achieve European Green Deal (EGD) objectives into account. Fertilizer management is one of the key elements of future agricultural policy, to which the European Green Deal refers, and is closer to the Farm to Fork strategy. The emphasis on the need to promote rational fertilizer management in European documents stemmed from the pressures of this economic activity on the natural environment. The paper focuses on the main determinants of fertilizer management, including the costs and quantities of mineral fertilizers used and the results of the NPK fertilizer balance, using the gross balance and indicator method. The study used Statistics Poland data 2007 and 2016 from the Farm Structure Survey and agricultural accountancy FADN 2014-2019. It was found that, at the level of the agricultural sector, the results of fertilizer balances do not create surpluses and problematic issues concern a significant share of farms with an understated balance of main NPK macroelements. The expected reduction in the level of fertilization under the EGD may result in a reduction in production and economic performance from a farm and negatively affect the state of the natural environment. The fertilizer balance and nutrient efficiency level should be used as measurable indicators for setting reduction targets.

The research problem addressed in this paper includes the progress of suburbanization in selected Polish metropolises. The following core question was formulated: when did today’s suburbanization processes start, and what are the migration trends and targets of the population living at the dividing line between urban and suburban limits in Polish metropolises. Defined as such, the study field enabled formulating the objective of this research, which is to present the formation of new suburbanization processes in the largest metropolises in Poland. Considering the research problem and the defined objective, the authors analyzed the differences in demographic changes across the territory, and put these findings in the context of suburbanization and its stages. This allowed to determine the dynamics and targets of migration in the metropolises surveyed. Also, the changes were compared between the units covered, providing a basis for further considerations on suburbanization and for concluding whether these processes are cyclical in nature. The analyses relied on descriptive statistics methods and on graphical data presentation methods. The selected metropolises were delimited using QGIS Desktop 2.4.0 and adequate geometry (centroid) and geoprocessing (buffer) tools. This paper relies on source data in the form of shapefile vector layers presenting the boundaries of the administrative units considered (http://www.gugik.gov.pl/pzgik). Source materials included public statistical data and program documents developed at regional and sub-regional level. The study period is 1995-2018. In geographic terms, the study focuses on the selected metropolises of Poznań, Warsaw, Łódź, Wrocław, Krakow, Gdansk and Szczecin.

Purpose. This paper evaluates the involvement of three selected agricultural commodities (rice, coffee and soya) in international trade. The aim is to analyze the specification of foreign trade in selected commodities and assess their different significance between representations in domestic markets and exports. This article will also assess other contexts related to international trade in these three commodities, including the negative effects on their trade. Based on the set goal, a research question was asked which evaluates the different position of the examined agricultural commodities on world export markets in relation to domestic consumption. Methodology / approach. The theoretical anchoring of the issue under study are the approaches taken to international economic relations with the emphasis on the specific features of agricultural trade. The methodological framework of the present study is based on the systematic analysis of the spatial distribution of production capacities, the territorial analysis of exports and imports within the world agricultural market and qualitative evaluation of the specifics of selected export commodities and their role in the economy of countries, including labour market importance and in the possibilities of their use. Results. The paper presents the results of the involvement of the rice, coffee and soya in international trade analysis. Most rice production is consumed on domestic markets. Unlike rice, most of the coffee produced is exported and less is consumed within the growing countries themselves. Although domestic coffee consumption is increasing, more than 70% of world production is exported. Soya bean production has increased significantly over the past 50 years as a result of the rising demand for animal feedstuff and biofuels. Almost three quarters of soya bean production is consumed as feedstuff. Originality / scientific novelty. The main contribution of the article is in the application level the elaboration of a comparative view of three selected agricultural commodities. At the theoretical level of the study, it represents a contribution to the discussion within the approaches to the organization of global agricultural trade, the interdependence of economic policies of states, trade ties and the impact on labour markets in relation to production. Agricultural commodities remain an important item in world international trade. However, their share in the total volume is gradually declining. They play an important role in the maintenance of individual countries, but at the same time they are of great economic importance, although we can also mention the less positive aspects of their production, including their impact on the environment. At the same time, it is necessary to realize that this sector is essential for human survival and also that agriculture is important from the point of food security for the population, which can contribute to and increase the level of agricultural protectionism (resilience to world market disruptions or uncontrolled import of genetically modified (GM) food and the transmission of animal diseases). Agriculture is one of the most sensitive economic sectors in the world. Nevertheless, agricultural exports have several economic benefits, including stimulating a wide range of agricultural-related industries, transport suppliers, processing and farm inputs. Practical value / implications. The production of agricultural commodities is of great importance to the economies of individual states, where it contributes to the creation of direct, indirect and induced jobs. The agrarian sector is a key sector, especially for less developed countries. The analysis confirmed the high tradability of all commodities examined and is documented by their involvement in the international division of labour in the global projection.

The problem of the ageing labour force in agriculture and the effects of this process have been studied and widely discussed for a long time. The paper aims to determine the level and pace of ageing of employees in Poland compared to other European Union countries, and in particular to compare its scale between agricultural and other occupations. The study uses LFS data gathered in the EUROSTAT database and the comparative method in relation to values of the renewal ratio. The age structure of employees changed noticeably between 2002 and 2022. The proportion of employees aged 50-64 in the group of all employees increased by 11 pp. in the EU. The analyses show that in the years 2002-2022, in both the EU and Poland, agricultural workers were the oldest group among all the major occupation categories. The renewal ratio for the agricultural worker category was 1.2 in the EU and 1.4 in Poland in 2022. Nevertheless, in the period under consideration, in the EU and in Poland, the pace of ageing was relatively higher for other occupations, especially for services and sales workers, clerical support workers, and craft and related trades workers. On the other hand, managers are the only employee group in Poland reporting an increase in the renewal ratio. Changes in the age structure of the agricultural labour force in Poland and in the EU need to be explored in the context of the dynamic changes taking place in the agricultural sector in recent decades, and also in correlation with demographic trends in European societies.

The paper’s objective is to identify the level of organic fruit and vegetables prices compared to their conventional substitutes’ prices and determine the price premiums for organic products. In order to achieve this goal, prices of both types of food were quoted for 9 months (between October 2022 and June 2023) in various types of commercial outlets offering organic and conventional food located in the Poznań agglomeration. Each week, 60 price registers were created – 30 for organic food and 30 for conventional food. It allowed to calculate the average monthly prices of the investigated products and, based on that, the average price premiums for selected fruits and vegetables. The conducted study proved that generally, the prices of the investigated fruit and vegetables were relatively high and fluctuated similarly, in line with their seasonality and storage properties. The highest price premiums (over 100%) were noted for red beetroots, tomatoes, apples, and potatoes. The price premiums lower than 100% were observed for carrots, onions, bananas, and cucumbers. A decrease in price premiums compared to the former study has been observed, however the price premiums in the Polish market are still relatively high considering more mature organic food markets. This proves that there is a need for further research to improve the market infrastructure efficiency, which would lower the price of organic food.

In the Strategic Plan for the CAP 2023-2027, the goal of special importance is the strengthening ecosystem services. Eco-schemes are a new type of direct support intended for farmers taking additional actions to protect the environment and climate. The study undertakes an institutional and environmental assessment of the proposal to withdraw from implementing some of the assumptions included in the eco-schemes. As a result, the criteria for their availability turned out to be inadequate for smallholder farms. Farmers implementing eco-schemes are exposed to additional expenditures or reduced incomes due to the extensification of production. However, they may receive applicable financial compensation on the annual basis. The current, rather complicated system authorizing payments for 2023, meant that relatively not many farmers made such efforts. At the same time, this results in receiving approximately 50% of support from the direct payments comparing to the previous year. In this paper there has been suggested the need for modification of the eco-schemes with the special emphasis on smallholder farms. It was based on two pillars: technological and environmental, with a proposal of requirements that may be relatively easy to meet in practice.

The booming popularity of avocado production has given a poor environmental reputation in various parts of the world. The increase in avocado production has also been observed in Turkiye, where the area under cultivation and the production volume of avocados have increased recently. The main objective of the paper is to identify the perceptions of production, environmental and business risks, to study the risk management strategies that farmers consider the most important, and display the gross margin calculation of avocado production in Turkiye. Interviews were conducted with a selected sample of fifteen farms (cases) from the Mediterranean region of Turkiye to determine risk perceptions, risk management strategies and collect data for the rapid calculation of business results of avocado producers. Interview data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and avocado calculation using gross margin. The major production risks were strong winds, fungal attack, and sunburn, while robbery, changes in agricultural policies, and lack of information and uncertain supply for export were the major business risks. The major environmental risks are depletion of water sources. Farmers' most preferable risk management strategies for sustainable avocado production in Turkiye were windbreaks, shade nets and latex coatings, farm insurance, safety and security systems, and strengthening farmer cooperatives. The main environmental risk management strategies were water management, sub-tree irrigation, and the use of technical applications for irrigation. Avocado production in Turkiye is a promising market, but only under the condition of holistic value chain management and an enabling environment that includes national producer associations, sustainable certification systems, and government control of water use and deforestation.

The aim of the paper is to present the essence of natural fertilizers in the form of RENURE, taking into account environmental and production-economic issues. For several decades, international programs and strategies for sustainable development have been implemented. The need to achieve various objectives in business activity is also underlined by the European Green Deal strategy, introduced at the end of 2019. An important element of it is the correct management of natural fertilizers, both for environmental and production and economic reasons. The case of the Netherlands was presented, where pilot studies on the conversion of manure into RENURE were introduced. The study used literature sources and selected, recent statistics from Eurostat resources (2019, 2020). Agriculture in EU countries in the context of production and possibilities of using natural fertilizers is illustrated. Analysis of statistical data has shown that agriculture in the EU is highly diversified in terms of manure management. The case of the Netherlands, which has implemented the RENURE pilot program, results from the specificity of their agriculture – a small area of the country, a very high population and a high stocking density of livestock. Countries that face similar agricultural challenges as the Netherlands can seek similar solutions. In the case of Polish, which differs significantly in terms of the organisation of agriculture and its natural management conditions, the economic and environmental justification for the introduction of RENURE is not justified on a sector-wide scale.

The main purpose of this paper is to identify the behavioral factors that impact the investment decisions made by farm managers. A survey carried out in 2023 with 152farms located in Greater Poland was the source of empirical materials. The study suggests that overconfidence and over-optimism are not widespread in the group surveyed. In assessing their own knowledge of investment topics, 74% of farmers claimed to be equally competent as other agricultural producers. When preparing the implementation of an investment, most respondents (47%) foresee a neutral scenario of how the situation could development, 20% for an optimistic scenario and only13% pick a pessimistic one. Nearly25% of interviewees admitted to rely on the brand’s reputation when choosing a fixed asset (the availability heuristic). The vast majority of farmers surveyed (65%) replied that investing their own funds requires a more in-depth analysis. This corroborates the conclusions made by Richard Thaler and Eric Johnson who discovered that people are less willing to risk their own hard-earned money.

The paper discusses the issue of identifying selected aspects of banking sector activity in Poland under conditions of economic uncertainty. In terms of time scope, the conditions of the pandemic were taken into account, including the years 2018-2020. In an attempt to identify the most important business dilemmas of banking, the case study of PKO BP bank has been selected for analysis. Based on its own research, it was noted that the year 2020, precisely because of the coronavirus pandemic, somehow forced sectoral changes in the financial enterprise management. The study verified the hypothesis that the bank’s overall financial performance is affected not only by management decisions, but also by external factors that are difficult to predict. Institutional decisions of the central bank and the government are also a consequence of macroeconomic uncertainty. It was noted that as a result of the National Bank of Poland’s monetary policy in 2020, the evaluated bank PKO BP reported, compared to 2019, a financial loss (almost -3.0 billion PLN), including: a decrease in general revenues (-9.05%), as well as a decrease in interest income due (-6.90%). Finally, based on the descriptive analysis and the discussion of the study results, the most important conclusions and recommendations were formulated.

Ukraine has very good natural conditions for agricultural production and year by year it is becoming an increasingly important producer in Europe and the World. Poland, despite worse natural conditions and more than three times smaller area of utilization agricultural area, is also an important producer in the EU. The current geopolitical situation requires comparative analyzes of numerous aspects of the agricultural potential of Poland and Ukraine. They are necessary for utilitarian reasons and provide a scientific basis for making political decisions of a strategic nature, especially in relation to agricultural policy. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to compare the trends of changes and the current state in the consumption of mineral fertilizers and pesticides in Polish and Ukrainian agriculture. The material for analysis was statistical data from the FAO. The analysis covers the years 1992-2020. The consumption of mineral NPK fertilizers and pesticides in Poland and Ukraine in the years 1992-2020 varied both in terms of the level, dynamics and directions of changes. The consumption of mineral fertilizers in the analyzed period was higher in Poland than in Ukraine. On the other hand, the use of pesticides in most years was higher in Ukraine than in Poland. However, since 2015, this regularity has changed and therefore the consumption of pesticides in Poland is higher than in Ukraine. Considering the outlined trends in the consumption of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products, it should be pointed out that Ukraine will strengthen its position as the leading food producer in the world. In this case, it will be a big challenge for Poland and the entire EU, which should be the subject of further scientific analyses.

Purpose. This paper aims to give a system-wide overview of agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA), based on the understanding of agriculture as a complex providing humanity with food, energy and other vital resources and considering all forms of sector’s influence: environmental, social, and economic. This review is intended to outline the temporal and geographical spread of agricultural LCA research, the main aspects studied with LCA in agriculture, and relevant scientific themes via bibliometric analysis and an overview of high-quality scientific publications in this field. Methodology / approach. This study used traditional bibliometric research techniques: performance analysis, scientific mapping, and network analysis. Bibliometric analysis was conducted through the Bibliometrix R package in the RStudio and its extension – Biblioshiny. The bibliographic collection covers 259 academic English-language articles indexed in Scopus for 1999–2022. Results. The study identifies a significant growth in a number of agricultural LCA publications, a tendency of current LCA research to continue and complement earlier research findings, and to accentuate environmental aspects of agricultural activity. Developed countries lead this field of research in terms of productivity and impact. However, LCA studies are geographically concentrated, and collaboration between developed and developing countries is weak. The following issues shape the agri-LCA research structure: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis; LCA of various impacts of agriculture; challenges of agriculture environmental impacts measuring; LCA usage to ensure agriculture sustainability; agri-LCA methodology. Emphasis on GHG emissions in agri-LCA could lead to biased decisions promoting climate-resilient agriculture but neglecting other impacts and dimensions of the sector’s sustainability. Originality / scientific novelty. It was found that the rapid development of the field of research featured a certain stability, continuity, and historical relationship between the issues studied. Research transform from a highly specialised topic into a broader one by the scope of publishing sources but are highly geographically concentrated and not equally distributed even within the European Union. As far as is known, these results have not been previously reported. Practical value / implications. The identified “closedness” of the research community leads to weak scientific progress. Sharing knowledge and involving a broader set of stakeholders to promote LCA application in agriculture globally must be a priority of scholars and policymakers.

Purpose. The paper focuses on comparing two cost calculation method describing the principle, utilisation, advantages and disadvantages of the traditional mark-up on cost pricing (overhead method) against Activity Based Costing (ABC), a new, unconventional method of cost calculation. The aim is to prove that the ABC method allocates costs differently to individual products, in a different proportion thereto, unlike the mark-up method. The ABC method is considered by us more accurate because it views differently how costs originate. Methodology / approach. Statistical data testing was carried out, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk W tests, followed by a paired t-test, and completed with the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The data was evaluated for eight selected products, whose overhead value was calculated from both marking-up and ABC, out of a selected set of primary agricultural enterprises in Slovakia. Finally, the results were assessed with an unproven statistically significant difference between the calculation methods found. Results. This paper emphasises a different view of costing with the ABC method which, unlike conventional methods, offers multidimensionality and variation of cost tracking based on real and relevant data. A statistically significant difference between the methods was demonstrated for three pairs of variables (out of a total eight pairs). Statistically significant differences were found for cattle, wheat and sugar beets. Although statistical testing has not shown any significant difference between the methods, ABC is still considered a more accurate costing method for allocating overhead. The argument here follows from the very principle and method of ABC allocation of overheads. Unlike traditional methods, ABC offers multidimensional and diverse cost tracking based on real and relevant data. The direct allocation of costs (using an equal budget base) to products and services does not necessarily capture actual cost flows. Because overheads are higher on farms, misleading data can be provided. Practical experience in agriculture seems to imply that the ABC method is the most cost-effective tool for cost control and encourages its further use in budgeting, planning, modelling and decision-making. Originality / scientific novelty. The paper focuses on cost calculations made in agricultural holdings, often a neglected topic in agricultural management. In particular, high overhead costs in agriculture deserve more attention. Their exact allocation to products is important. The paper also focuses on assessing the suitability of calculation methods in agricultural holdings and on pointing out the need for accurate cost allocation. Practical value / implications. The main results and ideas here can be beneficial for managing agricultural holdings. Where the proportion of overheads is higher, management may be provided with misleading data. Practical experience shows the ABC method to be currently the most cost-effective tool for controlling costs and provides opportunities for its use in budgeting, planning, modelling and decision-making on product range structure, alongside other options.

As family farms are the dominant form of agricultural activity in Europe, their economic viability is a prerequisite for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas. The aim of this research is to review the latest publications on the economic viability of family farms in Europe. Based on a systematic literature review of studies related to European agriculture published in 2010-2020, this paper presents various concepts of family farm economic viability and assesses the methodologies used. The paper also presents the results of selected empirical research from the last 10 years on family farm economic viability in Europe, broken down into international and national comparisons. Results suggest that the most common approach to measuring economic viability is to use the opportunity cost concept of own factors of production. An important observation is also that, although most studies are based on the FADN database, the results of the analyses are sensitive to the selection of the threshold wage and own capital costs. What contemporary literature lacks is a long-term comparative analysis for all EU countries, as well as studies of drivers of family farm economic viability.

The aim of the paper is to identify changes in nitrogen management in individual agriculture and result assessment in the context of sustainable development. The paper showed the essential elements of nitrogen balancing on agricultural area. Research was conducted at a national as well as voivodship level, making it possible to determine the scale of diversity of regional nitrogen management in individual agriculture and verify the regional divergence process in this scope. Analysis was based on data collected during the Farm Structure Survey in 2007 and 2016 prepared by the Statistical Office in Olsztyn, for individual farms with at least 1 ha of UAA in GAEC. The period of research captured the trend of changes in nitrogen management on farms over a 10 year-period. Nitrogen gross balance was calculated on the basis of OECD and EUROSTAT methodology. The results indicated the need to improve nitrogen management to optimize it in relation to crop nutritional needs and local soil conditions. Not only environmental considerations but, above all, economic ones, are an important prerequisite for increasing farmer interest in such activities. Regional diversification of nitrogen economy is progressing, indicating an ongoing divergence (polarization) process. This process is the result of a number of different factors, including organizational and environmental ones.

The main purpose of this paper was to identify the factors affecting the selection of raw materials used by feed operators in feed production. An attempt was also made to indicate the barriers to increasing the use of native protein plants by feed operators in feed production. Today, many EU countries (including Poland) primarily rely on vegetable protein derived from genetically modified soya bean meal (mainly imported from South America and the U.S.) in addressing their needs for protein raw material used in animal feed. For many years now, Poland has taken steps to increase the production and use of native protein raw material to partially replace soya bean meal imports. The use of mixes of diverse domestic protein sources derived from grain legumes (peas, field beans, lupine) can provide an advantageous alternative to compound feeding stuff based on imported post-extraction soya bean meal. To meet the objective defined above, this paper relied on the results of a 2018survey conducted with a sample of 29feed operators located across the country. More than half (55%) of the enterprises surveyed did not use legumes in feed production; the use of legumes was above 10% in only 3% of respondents. When asked about the key factors affecting the selection of raw materials used in production processes, the respondents declared to be interested in buying large batches of homogeneous raw materials that meet specific quality parameters (33% replied “rather yes” and 67% replied “definitely yes”). The protein content of plant seeds used in feed production was identified as another aspect of extreme importance (55% replied “rather yes” and 24% replied “definitely yes”).

The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe institutional barriers to the development of organic farming in Poland. As a secondary objective, this paper seeks feedback from organic farmers on measures taken by the institutional environment to promote the development of organic farming. This paper is based on literature reviews and selected findings from empirical research carried out in2019 with262 organic farms. The sample used in this study was representative of the general population of certified organic farms. The survey was a CAWI. The study found that organic farming faces many barriers, with frequent amendments to regulations being of key importance. This destabilizes and adds uncertainty to the functioning of organic farms. Another significant barrier are the high standards of organic production and low levels of financial and non-financial support. To a certain extent, these barriers result from the inefficiency of institutions surrounding organic farming. As a consequence, they are considered to poorly contribute to organic farming development.

EU regional policy funding was said to be a significant source of co-financing renewable energy investments in Poland, however, what has not yet been investigated thus far is the impact of such financing in rural areas of the Mazovian Voivodship, the biggest in the country. Thus, the aim of the paper is to explore the main outcomes of using this funding for RE investments in rural areas of the Mazovian Voivodship and look into the relations between these outcomes and important factors determining them. The study is based on qualitative and quantitative data from the SIMIK 2007-2013 data base of the Ministry of Development, Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland, data from 3 classifications of communes and a questionnaire survey. Findings prove that RE investments in the rural Mazovian Voivodship differ from investments in other rural areas of Poland as they only used wind and solar RE, were carried out only by local self-governments and enterprises, and obtained EU co-funding only from regional operational programmes. The similarities between RE investments in the rural Mazovian Voivodship in other rural areas of the country indicate an insufficient adjustment of eligible costs to total costs and a lower than available share of EU funding in eligible costs, both significantly increasing the share of non-EU funding necessary to carry out projects. The shortage of funding was indicated by local authorities and the respondents of the survey as the main obstacle in supporting local development and was the reason for taking other than RE investment development priorities. The paper concludes with recommendations on an increase of RE investments in the rural Mazovian Voivodship.

This paper analyzes mutual relationships between the institution of the state, agriculture, and agricultural interventions. It primarily adopts a historical (retrospective) approach, starting by identifying the socioeconomic importance of agriculture, and then moving to the relationships between agriculture and the state. The final section focuses on the importance of state interventionism in agriculture, taking into consideration both historical events and specific (mostly environmental) challenges of the present. The authors relied on the relevant literature on agricultural interventionism and on mutual relationships between the state and agriculture. Despite a number of deficiencies, it is essential for the state to be actively involved in the agricultural sector. The regulatory activities carried out include not only the real impact on agricultural production (its volume and quality), but also affect issues of agriculture’s impact on the environment and social life. By assuring basic security, the state enables the emergence of farming innovations which are a necessary driver of agricultural development, which, moreover, must be conditioned by the unknown environmental problems present in the past. Moreover, the production and distribution of food alone represents one of the fundamental dimensions of security and is a guarantor of full economic growth.

This research was focused on a production potential of cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. grown in marginal heavy soils with the following intensity of mineral nutrition: (i) intensive 245.0 kg/ha NPK, (ii) semi-intensive 122.5 kg/ha NPK and (iii) untreated control 0.0 kg/ha NPK. The large-scale pilot field experiments with ÓVÁRI-ÓRIÁS cultivar were carried out on 2 sites under semi-humid to humid Central European temperate climate during 4 years. Overall, it was achieved 13.59 t/ha of dry matter yield on average and the yields varied from 2.37 t/ha to 42.56 t/ha. During the three productive years (2018 – 2020) the crop yield was affected mainly by years (F-ratio 70.67, P-value 0.00), then by nutrition (F-ratio 30.50, P-value 0.00), followed by sites (F-ratio 1.92, P-value 0.17) and finally by replications (F-ratio 0.00, P-value 1.00). In general, cup plant productivity was increasing by a higher number of utility years and similarly, by increasing of nutrition intensity. Although the effect of the sites seems to be almost negligible, the present study does not include sites with arid or semi-arid climate, where the crop productivity may be completely different, especially if the soils are easy soils with an already drying water regime. This study focused on cup plant is probably one of first original research papers published as study based on large-scale experiments conducted in Slovakia, the crop is recognized as suitable perennial crop for energy as other purposes and therefore further agronomic as follow-up studies are needed.

The consumer price of food products is an important economic factor that significantly affects the level of food consumption. In this paper it is analysed the development of consumption and prices of selected types of meat in the Slovak Republic in the period 2012 - 2021, specifically pork, beef, and poultry. The basic hypothesis in examining the impact of price changes on consumption was the claim that an increase in the price of a particular meat will be reflected in a decrease in its consumption. Analysed data proved that Slovak consumers prefer pork and poultry to beef. The average Slovak household spends about 30% of total food expenditure on meat. In Slovak households the development of the share of expenditure on food, beverages and tobacco in total household expenditure showed an increasing trend. Slovak households spent 23.79% of their total expenditure on food in 2021, which was 27.02 percentage points (p.p.) more than in 2012. Poultry meat contributed the most to the increase in consumption, which since 2012 has recorded an average year-on-year increase in consumption of 106.02 p.p., beef with an average year-on-year increase in consumption of 105.1 p.p., and pork 102.69 p.p. The consumption of these three main types of meat increased by 37.52% from 2012 to 2021. Based on the development on the meat market in the current period, it can be assumed that inhabitants will prefer fine types of meat, while the price relationships of individual types continue to play an important role.