Economic sustainability of organic farms in 2010-2013

In line with the “Condition of organic farming in Poland. The report 2013- -2014”, issued by the Main Inspectorate of the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (www.ijhar-s.gov.pl), production solely under the organic system was carried out, at that time, by 67% and 60% of organic farms, respectively. The remaining share are entities producing under both organic and conventional methods. According to research, held under the Polish FADN, these farms are highly varied in organisational, production and economic terms. Farms using solely organic methods are distinguished by more holistic approach to executed farming activities, they are also more reliable as regards the quality of manufactured organic food, but they achieve poorer economic results. This is evidenced in the following paper discussing the organisation, production and economic results of such farms grouped according to the size of UAA. Research proved that their production effects over a few years were fairly similar and dropped along with an increase in the area of farms but, at the same time, production intensity dropped. Very poor soil quality also constrained production. The analysis showed that these farms are weak in terms of production and economy, highly dependent on subsidies and rather unlikely to develop in the coming years.