Farms in Poland come in a wide variety of sizes, and the effect of farm size on the profitability of labor has not been sufficiently investigated. This paper takes a fresh look at the model for labor profitability determinants of family farms in Poland in relation to their economic size. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that determine the labor profitability index in farms of various economic size classes (classes ES1–ES5). In the analysis of factors shaping the profitability of labor in family farms, a panel analysis was applied. Family farm income expressed per family labor unit was adopted as the dependent variable. The following variables were used as explanatory variables: (1) macroeconomic index of price relations (“price gap”); unemployment; average monthly gross wages and salaries; inflation; (2) technical-agricultural production efficiency index; (3) microeconomic ratio of total assets to agricultural land; technical equipment for work; land-to-labor ratio; debt ratio, subsidy ratio, and investment effort. A diversified influence of selected factors determining the level of profitability of labor in agriculture in particular groups of farms was found. The econometric models developed also indicate different strategies that are adopted by farmers on various farms. There is no single solution here; strategies for improving the profitability of work must take into account the specificity of a given entity. The models estimated indicate the necessity of using other mechanisms and tools of agricultural policy for farms of various economic sizes. It should be expected that, in the future, there will be a dichotomous development of farms. Medium-sized farms will become larger and economically effective, and smaller farms will perform residential functions, with the disappearing function of agricultural production.

Shaping of prices of agricultural raw materials results from the impact of a wide range of factors that influence prices in different links in the marketing chain. Political changes, especially sudden ones, which abruptly changed farming conditions, were one of the reasons for the asymmetry in price transmission. The main purpose of the paper was to estimate the trends in changes in agricultural raw materials prices in comparison to the trends in food prices in Poland in two time frames, differing in political and economic conditions: before (1999–2004) and after Poland’s accession (2005–2019) to the European Union. It was found that the accession to the EU improved the situation of farmers in agricultural markets. There was a reversal of downward price trends in agricultural raw materials and their stabilization. In the years 1995–2005, for most of the prices of agricultural raw materials and food under the analysis, the differences between the trends were not statistically significant. This situation was consistent with the model of market operating under perfect competition. The trends in the prices of wheat, rolls, and bread, as well as the prices of livestock for slaughter-pigs and roast beef were the only exceptions. In turn, in the years 2005–2019 statistically significant differences between the trends in the prices of agricultural raw materials and food were recorded for wheat, bread, and flour; milk, butter, and cottage cheese; eggs and egg retail prices; as well as livestock for slaughter, cattle, and sausages. No statistically significant differences were found for the remaining relationships of the analyzed prices of agricultural raw materials and food. These data indicate a different level of price transmission depending on the product group.

Celem badań jest identyfikacja determinantów oraz preferencji konsumentów dotyczących miejsc zakupu artykułów spożywczych. Stwierdzono, że najczęściej respondenci jako miejsce zakupu artykułów spożywczych wybierali superi hipermarkety, sklepy dyskontowe oraz średnie sklepy samoobsługowe. Z kolei najważniejszymi czynnikami decydującymi o wyborze miejsca zakupu artykułów spożywczych były niskie ceny, lokalizacja blisko miejsca zamieszkania oraz wysoka jakość produktów.

The aim of the research was to analyze consumer behavior regarding changes in the place where the food was purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis of the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and changes in the frequency of food purchases in specified retail outlets was presented. Different consumer reactions to the threats and restrictions that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic were found. Gender had a statistically significant impact on the changes in the place of purchase in the case of supermarkets and discount stores. Women were reported to be more cautious about the risks associated with shopping in supermarkets and discount stores. Age had a statistically significant impact on the frequency of grocery shopping in small local/rural stores, in medium-sized self-service stores, in supermarkets and in discount stores. Among the group of respondents aged 46 and over, greater trust in larger commercial units was observed. Education had a statistically significant impact on the frequency of shopping for groceries only in supermarkets. In turn, the place of residence had a statistically significant impact on the change in the frequency of making purchases in medium-sized self-service stores and discount stores. The results of our own research are not unambiguous, but they indicate certain tendencies in the perception of health safety when shopping among various social groups.

Poland has a large potential for biogas production from agricultural sources and food waste. This potential is still poorly used. There are many reasons for this state of affairs. We can indicate both the policy of the state towards renewable energy sources (RES) with a small amount of energy from biogas contracted at auctions, investment risk, and especially low return on investment in the absence of investment support. An important reason is also the limited state budget. The purpose of this work was to determine the endogenous factors that determine ROE, the direction of the impact of these factors, as well as the strategy of biogas plants in shaping the ROE level. The DuPont model was used in the analysis of ROE changes. We used the deviation method to determine the impact of the various factors on ROE. Against the background of the energy sector in Poland, the value of ROE in the examined biogas plants should be considered satisfactory, and in 2020 it was, on average, 13.9%. The decrease from 17.2% in 2019 occurred despite the increase in energy prices and the increase in the net profit margin (NPM). It resulted from the reduction of ROE’s financial leverage through external capital. A high level of debt characterized the examined biogas plants, and the pursuit of risk reduction and debt reduction negatively impacts on ROE. This may indicate the need for state investment support at the plant construction stage or low-interest investment loans to develop biogas plants. In addition, using only price guarantees under the feed-in tariffs, with dynamic changes in costs, may bring the industry a relatively high investment risk compared to other RES, where the operational costs during the lifetime are low, as it is in PV or wind systems.

The aim of the article was to evaluate the sensory attractiveness of local smoked bacon made from organic and traditional pig fattening feedstock. The research material consisted of three assortments of smoked bacon produced according to the same traditional recipe. The sensory attractiveness of the bacon was evaluated on the basis of the research of quality factors (external look, look on the cross-section, color, smell-intensity, smell-desirableness, taste, taste-intensity, taste-desirability) and affective reaction to the product. Two groups of people performed a direct assessment of the bacon: 115 consumers and a team of 12 experts. The research shows that the sensory quality of local smoked bacon differentiates significantly the feedstock used for their production. Of the three tested assortments of smoked bacon, the highest scores were awarded to the distinctions of the sensory quality of bacon from traditional fattening. The total sensory quality index of bacon from traditional fattening ranged from 4.28 to 4.50 points, bacon from intensive fattening from 3.66 to 3.95 points, and organic fattening bacon only from 3.20 to 3.42 points. This product ranking was mainly determined by two distinctive features: the cross-section look and the taste. In the opinion of consumers and experts the most-attractive local smoked bacon proved to be a product from pig fattening feedstock.

The aim of the study was to compare the properties of lipids and the content of cadmium and lead in the meat of red deer (Cervus elaphus) kept in a forest feeding ground (FFG) and on organic and conventional farms in Poland. Longissimus lumborum (LL) and Musculus semimembranosus (SM) muscles were collected for the study from 36 red deer carcasses in an equal sex and age ratio (3 and 4 years old). From April to October, the animals consumed only the vegetation growing in the feeding grounds. The floristic and phytoncide composition, as well as the fodder value, of the feeding grounds were assessed. Additionally, the intramuscular fat and cholesterol content, the profile, sum, and ratios of fatty acids (FAs), lipid nutraceutical parameters, and cadmium and lead content were determined in LL and SM. The plant composition comprised 116 species in the organic feeding ground (OFG) and 78 species in the conventional feeding ground (CFG). The LL and SM muscles of the red deer from the organic and forest feeding grounds exhibited significantly lower amounts of fat and cholesterol than those from the conventional system. The differences in the fatty acid composition between the three groups were quite small. Differences in intramuscular fat content contributed to a higher percentage of PUFAs in the FFG and OFG, in comparison to the CFG. In all types of feeding ground, the cadmium (0.002 to 0.008 mg/kg) and lead (0.009 to 0.019 mg/kg) content determined in the meat did not pose a threat to consumers.

In the Financial Perspective of 2021-2027, the European Commission has earmarked an amount of 365 billion euros for agricultural and rural development under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), compared to 416 billion euros in the previous Perspective. Of the planned funds in the current financial perspective, EUR 265.2 billion was allocated for direct payments (previously EUR 294.9 billion) and EUR 78.8 billion for rural development (previously EUR 95.3 billion). There was also an additional allocation of EUR 20 billion for market support and EUR 10 billion for the Horizon Europe research program. Overall, the 2021-2027 Financial Perspective budgeted funds from the EU budget at 88% compared to the previous Financial Perspective for actions at CAP. The aim of the article was the analyses of sources of financing for agriculture and rural areas in the scope of the CAP in the years 2021-2027. The research results show that the planned allocation of funds for the years 2021-2027 to support agriculture and rural areas has decreased in comparison with the previous programming period.