Air pollution is of major importance to the environment. Last years the findings related to air pollution of the agricultural sector and the impact on it are crucial for the future development of plant and livestock breeding sectors. The main purpose of this paper is to identify, analyze and assess, on the one hand, the impacts of agriculture on air pollution and, on the other, agriculture as a pollutant. The conclusions drawn will serve as suggestions for the introduction of practices and mechanisms in agriculture that will contribute to the improvement of the environment and in particular the quality of the air.The object of the survey is the agrarian sector, and the subject of the research is 1) the impact of air pollution on the agrarian sector and 2) the effects of agrarian activities on air pollution. The paper is based on the following sequence: theoretical framework, analysis of statistical information and a survey of agrarian, environmental and agroecology experts. The survey is made under the scientific project DN 15/8 11.12. 2017 Sustainable multifunctional rural areas: reconsidering agricultural models and systems with increased demands and limited resources.

The LEADER approach has an important role for strengthening and the development of local communities and for stimulating innovations and innovative practices in rural areas. The aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the LEADER approach as an innovative approach and on this basis to prepare general conclusions about the innovative development of rural areas in Bulgaria. The local active group (LAG) is interpreted as an innovative "coordinating" activity and it is the core of the innovation system that solves conflicts, and creates and implements local strategies for rural development. The LEADER and the Communityled local development approaches introduce innovative practices for Bulgarian conditions in order to improve local governance and facilitate innovations. The main contributions of the LEADER and the Community approaches are related to: the establishment of local active groups in different network structures of partnership; activating stakeholders, broadcasting leaders and improving coordination between them; establishing local expertise and administrative capacities; support for business organizations, local authorities and the non-governmental sector in the development and management of innovative projects. The factors that influence the success of the LEADER approach and its importance for rural development in each country differ in their administrative, socio-economic, historical and cultural contexts. Bulgarian LAGs continue to implement the Communityled local development approach (CLLDA) in the process of adapting to the specific conditions of rural areas. The results are part of scientific project DN 15/8 2017 Sustainable multifunctional rural areas: reconsidering agricultural models and systems with increased demands and limited resources funded by the Bulgarian research fund. JEL Classification Numbers: O31, R58,

This article proposes an interpretation of some statistical and empirical evidence of the impact of land pollution on agriculture and agriculture as pollutant. The new conditions concerning the quality of land and land pollution, together with the increasing demand for profitability of traditional agriculture, have led to problems of lack of sufficient farming lands and increased level of degraded soil quality. The land is characterized as a prime production factor in agriculture with own specifications and cadaster. The study emphasizes the contribution of the impact of agriculture on land usage in Bulgaria and the agriculture as affected by soil pollution. The parts of the article are as follows: 1) literature review concerning the connection of the agriculture as a soil/land pollutant and soil/land polluter; 2) Methodology is based on one-dimensional and twodimensional distribution of data collected by own survey. 3) According to the collected data is made analysis and some general conclusions which can be used as policy recommendations.

With the introduction of new farming techniques and methods, the agrarian sector should be transformed into economically and environmentally friendly way. The Bulgarian districts are 28 and most of them are rural that contribute to the Bulgarian economy with GDP from agricultural products. The main aim of the study is to reveal the connection between the agrarian indicators GDP from agriculture and utilized agricultural area and their impact on the level of environmental pollution. The set up tasks are as follows: 1) Literature findings of the connection between agriculture and environmental pollution; 2) Methodology based on correlation, regression and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) of the impact on GDP from agriculture and environmental pollution; 3) Main findings, recommendations and conclusions. The results are part of scientific project DN 15/8 2017 “Sustainable multifunctional rural areas: reconsidering agricultural models and systems with increased demands and limited resources”, funded by the Bulgarian science fund.

Small farms have an important place in the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. Their existence is essential for the development of agriculture in the country. The factors that have an impact on small farms can be derived as macroeconomic factors, demographic factors, agricultural policy, market factors and others. The influence of these factors also reveals a variety of opportunities for development, assuming that some farms will make efforts to increase their economic viability. The aim of the study is to analyze the opportunities for development of small farms in Bulgaria. To achieve this goal, the following tasks are set: 1) Review of theories on the prerequisites for the existence and development of small farms; 2) The role of small farms in Bulgarian agriculture; 3) Opportunities for development of small farms; 4) Main conclusions. The results presented in the publication are part of the project №15 / 8 of 2017. "Sustainable multifunctional rural areas: rethinking agricultural models and systems with increased requirements and limited resources", funded by the Scientific Research Fund.