Analysis of Changes in Agricultural Use of Land After Poland’s Accession to the EU

Purpose: The paper presents an analysis of changes in the management and use of agricultural land. The comparative study dealt with the state before Poland’s accession to the EU (ex ante) and the state after nearly two decades (ex post). Design/Methodology/Approach: A statistical analysis demonstrated changes in the methods of land use, which was shown in graphs. A comparative analysis of two objects on a micro-scale was performed in north-eastern Poland. Fifteen features were analysed for each state ex post and ex ante of a plot under analysis. These features applied both to land covered by EU subsidies and to land not eligible for such subsidies. The data used in the analysis included cadastral data and LPIS data. Findings: The findings show that the changes in the land-use methods are not identical in each area. Currently, owing to modern methods of data acquisition, users can demonstrate different methods of land use with greater precision. Owing to regular measurements, databases on agricultural land reflect the state in the field as close to reality as possible. Practical implications: The use of databases on agricultural land allows a precise evaluation of the changes. Local strategies preventing the excessive transformation of land for non-agricultural purposes can be prevented owing to permanent monitoring on a micro-scale. Originality/value: The study shows changes in land use in agricultural areas after Poland accessed the European Union. The analysis performed on a micro-scale shows the actual situation in the field, which can provide the basis for implementing a strategy of land management adapted to the local conditions.