The objective of this paper is to identify the relationship between farm income and assets within the European Union (EU) in the context of economic and environmental sustainable development. The scientific context is connected to economic theory (the recognition of the nature of such a relationship, as well as the determination of whether sustainable development acts as a stimulant or destimulant under these conditions). The Farm Accounting Data Network system was employed in the article. The econometric models were estimated by panel data based on the reported results of the farms operations in EU member states for the period of 2004–2018. Accordingly, the relationship between income and assets is positive and statistically significant, but not very clear in the group of surveyed farms. Moreover, economic sustainability was found to positively influences the relationship between income and assets. In contrast, the relationship between incomes and assets was weakened. The situation is brought about by the intrinsic growth in the value of the land, as well as by the growing importance of non-productive assets. Thus, farmers in EU countries are becoming wealthier in terms of the value of their assets but, this is not reflected directly in their income. The reason is the growing importance of environmental and social functions in the agriculture the European Union. Greater skills in asset management at farm level are, therefore, required to mitigate the situation.

Because of global environmental problems, low-carbon agriculture has gained increasing importance both in developed and developing countries. Hence, there is a need to find ways to develop more efficient agricultural systems. The purpose of this article is to identify the drivers of low-carbon agriculture on farms in the Wielkopolska region (in Poland). We aimed to take an original approach to investigate low-carbon agriculture with a unique set of different economic and environmental variables and contribute to the literature, which is not very extensive in terms of microeconomic research, including research on farmers in the Wielkopolska region. Therefore, we employed a multiple-factor measurement model for structural equation modeling (SEM) of data collected individually from 120 farms in 2020. As a result, we formulated the following conclusions: the increasing productivity of factors (land, labor, and capital) have a positive effect on low-carbon farming, just as increasing fertilizer and energy efficiency. Moreover, thermal insulation is also important for low-carbon agriculture, with efficiency of fertilizer use being the most important factor. We believe that the issues of farm use of fertilizers and thermal insulation of buildings should be more broadly included in energy policy, both at the national and the European Union (EU) levels. Some of these factors however are already present in the common agricultural policy (CAP) for 2021–2027.

The theory about the impact of farm size, income and assets on the environmental approach of farmers is ambiguous. We contribute to the existing discussion in two ways. Firstly, we look for the determinants of the environmental approach. Secondly, we treat farm size as a heterogeneous factor, affected not only by the value of assets but also flows of incomes. The main objective of the article is, therefore, to recognize the impact of assets and income on the environmental approach of agricultural producers. We analyze the results of surveys carried out in 2020 on a group of 120 farms from the Wielkopolska region (Poland), using structural equation modelling (generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM)-multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) model). Our results indicate that both the income and assets of the agricultural producers have a positive impact on their approach to the environment. However, to a greater extent, the farmer’s approach to the environment is influenced more by income than by assets. This may be influenced by the capitalization of subsidies in the price of agricultural land, which makes this element of farm assets detached from real processes. It is easier for farms with a higher income and assets to realize the orientation towards sustainability.

Prior studies on the relationships between economic, environmental, and social dimensions of activity on agricultural holdings has yielded inconclusive results. This study examines the interactions between these spheres, with the aim of determining what the relationships between them might be. The study was based on the results of surveys of 120 farms in the Wielkopolska region of Poland, using structural equation modeling. The results showed significant and positive relationships between the economic, social, and environmental dimensions that could create synergies between them. The strongest positive relationships existed between the economic and environmental dimensions. Thus, economic and environmental development can be stimulated simultaneously. Analyzed farms from the Wielkopolska region positively discount the existing support system in the EU to the complementarity between environmental and economic governance. Our research indicates the need for the EU to implement a strategy adjusted to the individual region’s peculiarities in terms of environmental and social policies in rural areas.

Głównym celem monografii jest ukazanie mechanizmów kształtujących związki pomiędzy dochodami a aktywami w gospodarstwach rolnych w Polsce na tle krajów Unii Europejskiej z uwzględnieniem kontekstu rozwoju zrównoważonego. Przeprowadzone badania pozwoliły pozytywnie zweryfikować hipotezę, że wraz z rozwojem gospodarstw rolnych i rosnącym znaczeniem funkcji środowiskowych i społecznych w rolnictwie związki pomiędzy dochodami i aktywami ulegają osłabieniu. Stwierdzono, że istnieją zależności pomiędzy dochodami a aktywami w gospodarstwach rolnych. Są to zależności o umiarkowanej sile wpływu, większej w przypadku gospodarstw rolnych z nowych krajów członkowskich, a więc z regionów o słabiej rozwiniętym rolnictwie. Jednocześnie związki te są stopniowo coraz słabsze, a dynamika wartości aktywów jest większa niż dochodów. Przyczyną tych procesów jest wzrost znaczenia funkcji środowiskowych i społecznych rolnictwa. Następuje to poprzez ewolucję instrumentów wspólnej polityki rolnej UE. W konsekwencji następuje oderwanie cen ziemi od jej produktywności i tym samym samoistna akumulacja aktywów. Jednocześnie składniki aktywów gospodarstw rolnych coraz bardziej mają charakter nieprodukcyjny ze względu na konieczność zapewnienia wyższych wymagań w zakresie dobrostanu środowiska, jak i zwierząt (np. zasady cross-compliance). W konsekwencji wzrost wartości aktywów nie objawia się w dochodach rolniczych. Poruszane zagadnienia odnoszą się to teorii ekonomii rolnej, kapitału, jak i zrównoważonego rozwoju. W literaturze przedmiotu bezpośrednio odwoływano się do tych procesów w rolnictwie rzadko, zwłaszcza w kontekście zrównoważonego rozwoju.