This article analyzes and evaluates the levels of socio-economic development of Polish voivodeships in two periods, 2010–2012 and 2020–2022. The purpose of this study was to outline regional disparities in development across the regions of Poland. To achieve the purpose of this study, 12 diagnostic characteristics were used, which were systematized by economic and social categories. Using the TOPSIS method, provinces were grouped, distinguishing between regions with the highest, high, low, and lowest levels of development. The approach adopted in this study identified changes in the processes of socio-economic development of Polish voivodeships in the analyzed years, highlighting clear spatial and structural differences. The findings can equip authorities in creating improved development plans and targeted responses to any shortcomings encountered.

The purpose of this study was to identify territorial clusters of Polish municipalities whose rural residents demonstrated higher or lower interest in the four programs of the CAP’s rural development policy compared to the country’s average interest. The clusters were identified on an aggregate basis and described with synthetic indexes of agriculture and rural development. The Moran’s global spatial autocorrelation coefficient was used to check for spatial autocorrelation. The results demonstrated that the support offered under the rural development programs covered by this analysis was higher in the regions with well-developed agricultural structures, while the areas with structural defects and the areas in need of development had lower-than-average levels of applications for all programs (regardless of their objectives). These findings call for a clear strategy to change the unfavorable structures in Polish agriculture. Otherwise, the regional development gaps in Polish agriculture will only deepen under these programs.

Zasoby środowiskowe stanowią część bogactwa narodowego, są uwarunkowaniem rozwoju lokalnego i regionalnego, umiejscawianym na płaszczyźnie elementów wpływających na jakości życia mieszkańców oraz ożywienie regionu. W odpowiedzi na globalne wyzwania związane z zasobami środowiskowymi tworzone są odrębne polityki środowiskowe, wdrażane i powiązane z innymi politykami rozwojowymi. Celem artykułu jest identyfikacja zróżnicowania gospodarowania zasobami środowiskowymi w polskich województwach. Zakres czasowy badań obejmuje 2004 i 2019 r., a zakres przestrzenny 16 województw. W postępowaniu badawczym wyodrębniono cztery dziedziny ładu środowiskowego: (1) zasoby wody i gospodarka odpadami, (2) użytkowanie gruntów i bioróżnorodność, (3) energia oraz (4) ochrona powietrza i klimatu, w ramach których dokonano pomiaru ich zróżnicowania. Zaproponowana metoda TOPSIS umożliwiła liniowe uporządkowanie województw w każdej dziedzinie. W ogólnym założeniu można przyjąć, że nastąpił progres w poziomie gospodarowania zasobami środowiskowymi w obrębie każdej z dziedzin. Zaproponowana metoda badawcza w połączeniu z uporządkowaniem w ramach klas typologicznych ujawniła w wielu przypadkach stabilny poziom gospodarowania we wskazanych obszarach, który nie uległ wyraźnym zmianom w badanych latach. Realizacja założonego celu badawczego pozwoliła dostrzec zróżnicowane podejście w gospodarowaniu zasobami środowiskowymi w województwach, co można uznać za zjawisko korzystne. Świadczyć to może o zdywersyfikowanym podejściu do kwestii środowiskowych i równoważenia skali gospodarowania.

We propose a method for allocating Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the agricultural sector of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries based on objectively measured indicators of the development of the economies determined for the period of 2010–2022. These indicators are calculated from statistical data using factor analysis. They are then implemented in a linear programming model to allocate the budget for ACP agriculture. The results show that the proposed approach allocates funds according to the assumed logic, supporting countries in the low and very low development classes. The research conducted can contribute to the discussion on the allocation of development support to the agricultural sector by potential donors while analyzing different assumptions. This study can also serve as a prelude to researching the phenomenon of increasing efficiency in the agricultural sector in the context of potential economic development paths for the analyzed countries.

The aim of this article is to determine the significance of short supply chains for local and regional development in Poland. The supply chain in Poland is defined as a coordinated set of people, financial and material resources, and activities involved in the process of delivering goods and services from the producer to the end consumer. Short Supply Chains (SSCs) are the foundation of the green economy, aiming to minimize the number of intermediaries and build direct relationships based on trust. Although short supply chains have been widely discussed in the context of sustainable agriculture and rural development, there is still limited research examining how digitalization and local organizational models jointly influence the development of SSCs and their contribution to local and regional development in Poland. This study addresses this gap by analysing selected Polish case studies and examining the combined role of digitalization, institutional support, and local initiatives in strengthening short supply chains. The article presents the situation of short supply chains in Poland using the example of selected organizations and initiatives, such as Poznań Green Market, Sady Grójeckie, Warmiński Koszyk, and Wiejska e-skrzynka. These cases demonstrate the impact of advancing digitalization on the development of local food markets, particularly in terms of shortening distribution channels, increasing access to local products, and strengthening producer–consumer relationships. The economic basis of SSCs is based on farmers taking over market margins and diversifying their income through agricultural retail trade (RHD), marginal, local, and limited (MOL) activities, and agritourism. This development is stimulated by EU funds, including the Rural Development Program (RDP) and Local Action Group (LAG) initiatives, as well as ongoing digitization and growing demand for local food. Furthermore, the development of local markets and short supply chains in the food sector is in line with the European “Farm to Fork” Strategy, which aims to ensure better food quality, reduce waste, and decrease the environmental impact of food systems. The analysis presented in the article will highlight the potential of short supply chains in political processes and make a significant contribution to the debate on strategies for supporting local and regional food markets.

The aim of the article is to present the level of knowledge about the Leader programme and the Local Action Group among the inhabitants of the LAG “Brama Lubuska” area consisting of 14 member communes. The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire survey on a sample of 200 inhabitants of communes comprising the LAG “Brama Lubuska” in 2015 and 2020. Most of the inhabitants have heard about the Leader programme and the Local Action Group. In addition, respondents are positive about the group’s initiative and activities. It is possible to notice an increase in satisfaction with the quality of advice provided at the LAG headquarters. The inhabitants are beginning to notice the undertakings carried out under the Leader initiative in the area of member communes. As the main source of information on the LAG and Leader, the respondents indicate the media, leaflets and information received in commune offices.