The particularities of agriculture, as a sector which ensures food supply, result from many factors, including the multilateral interaction between the environment and human activity. The extent of human intervention in the food production process is usually measured with the amount of capital expenditure. Therefore, the food production potential and the resulting food security depend on both natural and economic factors. This paper identifies the current status of food security in different countries around the world, considering both aspects (physical and economic availability) combined together. The variables published by FAO were used together with a variable estimated based on the author’s own methodology to identify 8 groups of countries characterized by economic development level, net trade in agricultural products, and selected variables related to agriculture and food situation. As shown by this study, the degree to which food security is ensured with domestic supply varies strongly across the globe. Domestic production provides a foundation for food security in wealthy countries, usually located in areas with favorable conditions for agriculture (including North America, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan) and in countries which, though characterized by a relatively small area of arable land per capita, demonstrate high production intensity (mainly European countries). International trade largely contributes to food security in Middle East and North African countries as well as in selected South American countries which are net importers of food products. The most problematic food situation continues to affect Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia.

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The paper covers the issues of a basic social need, namely alimentation. The aim of the research is to evaluate the energetic food self-suffi ciency and its changes in the European Union countries. The research was conducted using the author's methodology basing on the amount of energy produced and consumed in 1990-2009. The analyses proved that within the considered period, the European Union became an importer of net energy comprised in agricultural products. The excess in produced energy was mainly observed by the countries of European lowland. Moreover, in most of the countries, a decrease in the analysed factor was observed when compared with the 1990-1999 period. On the other hand, in relation to the new member states, the increase in food energetic self-suffi ciency was observed. The conclusion has been d rawn that, while the general food selfsuffi ciency is mainly determined by environmental factors, its dynamics is primarily infl uenced by the factors connected with agricultural policy.

the development of the organic food market is a consequence of changes in the current consumption patterns and the supply increase. the article attempts to answer the question whether consumers and producers have the similar opinions linked to the determinants of choice and perception of organic products as well as elements related to their distribution and marketing. For this purpose, a survey was conducted among the participants of the Poznań Green Market. According to the conducted research, both consumers and producers equitably identify ecological products with high quality and health benefits. These features were also most often indicated as the main determinants of purchase of these products. the differences in the opinions of the surveyed groups concerned knowledge of the signs and places of purchase/ offering of organic food.