The milk market in the European Union (EU) is adjusting rapidly to the removal of dairy quotas. The most important changes include increased milk yield per cow, increased total milk production, decreased number of cows, and the decreased milk consumption. The main aim of the paper is to examine the milk production changes in the EU. We investigated the dynamics of changes in farm milk production during the period from 1998–2017 in the EU. Moreover, we investigated the impact of the removal of quotas on the production of milk on farms in the EU countries for the period from 2015–2017. Milk production in the EU increased from 151 million tons in 1998 to 165 million tons in 2017 (a 10% increase). A multi-variate regression model was to test which explanatory variables have an impact on milk production in the EU. The most important factors were a gross domestic product, final household consumption expenditure (current prices, million euro), and population (number).

One of the most rapidly growing areas of the organic agricultural system is egg production. However, the price premium often decreases the affordability of organic foods. In this study, the production and sales of organic eggs in Europe were compared, the prices of organic and conventional eggs in Poland were analyzed, and the price premium on the Polish market was evaluated. This study relied on data of Eurostat, Statistics Poland, Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Poland. The prices of organic and conventional eggs on the Polish wholesale market were analyzed based on the monthly price registers. The production and sales of organic eggs in Europe were characterized by a steady increase. The nominal and real prices of organic eggs were higher than the prices of conventional eggs throughout the entire analyzed period. The nominal prices of organic eggs tended to decrease. However, an upward trend was observed in the real prices of both organic and conventional eggs. The average price premium for organic eggs exceeded 128% (median of 121%). The price premium was characterized by moderate variation (Vc = 33%). In Poland, the price premium was on a downward trend by around 1% per month in the examined period.

Development is a term of utmost importance in economic sciences, both with respect to the economy and to society [1]. Here, the emphasis is placed on the significance of quantitative and qualitative changes that occur in a particular (e.g., economic or social) area. In the modern world, one of the most desired development ideas is sustainable development as a process for improving the quality of life and welfare at a level permitted by the current level of civilization [2-3]. The connecting factor among the individual areas encompassed by the sustainable development process is the integrated order, which is understood as a positive status of the target development factors, which connect, in a mutually non-contradictory and cohesive manner, component orders of the integrated order [4-6] (the

The article discusses regional differences on the organic food market in the European Union based on retail sales data. The analysis was based on Eurostat, FiBL, IFOAM, USDA and literature data for 2016. Selected descriptive statistics were used. The analysis demonstrated considerable regional differences in both total and per capita retail sales of organic food on the EU market, which can be attributed to the unique characteristics of the compared countries. The absolute values of organic retail sales are influenced mainly by population and GDP. Per capita sales are strongly determined by GDP and final consumption expenditure of household. Therefore, organic retail sales were higher in countries with a higher GDP and higher household consumption per capita. Organic food sales and consumption were highest in Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Switzerland. The analysed variables were lowest in Cyprus,

Agricultural land accounts for approximately 40% of the total Natura 2000 (N2K) network area. Therefore, many habitats and species protected under the Habitats and Birds Directives are dependent on or linked to agricultural practices. This implies that sustaining agriculture of a high natural value is a priority in achieving the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity in the European Union (EU). However, extensive agriculture is unprofitable in many regions of the EU, which results in it being either abandoned or intensified in the absence of financial support. Hence, organic farming (OF), which is most often supported with public funds, can be an alternative to conventional agriculture in N2K areas. This article is an empirical study of the differences in perceiving the possibilities of farm functioning in a protected area (PA) by organic and conventional farm owners. It was examined whether this could be the actual path to improving farmers’ living conditions in the context of legal protection of naturally valuable areas. The study material comprises the results of a survey conducted at the turn of 2016 and 2017, which addressed a total of 292 farmers, including 152 organic farm operators and 140 conventional farm operators, whose areas under cultivation were located within the N2K “Dolina Biebrzy” (“Biebrza Valley”) PLH200008 area in Poland. For the analysis of the data collected using structured questionnaires, a variety of statistical methods and techniques were applied. The study results indicated that in terms of satisfaction with the economic performance of their farms, there is no major difference between the opinions expressed by organic and conventional farm owners. However, organic farming could be an alternative livelihood strategy from the environmental policy perspective.